The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to withdraw and deactivate passports belonging to Nigerians who have officially renounced their citizenship. The directive, confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Alao Babatunde, targets individuals whose applications to relinquish Nigerian citizenship have been formally approved. The move aligns with existing provisions in the Nigerian Constitution and the Citizenship and Business Act, which stipulate that renouncing citizenship automatically nullifies associated rights, including passport ownership. The Immigration Service has been directed to identify and deactivate affected travel documents immediately. The ministry emphasized that the action is not punitive but a procedural enforcement of existing laws governing nationality status. No new legislation was cited in the directive.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo's directive to revoke passports from Nigerians who have legally renounced citizenship is less about border control and more about symbolic enforcement at a time when questions about national loyalty are politically charged. The move singles out a small, already-documented group—those who have followed due process to exit Nigerian citizenship—making the gesture largely performative rather than operational.
Nigeria has long struggled with ambiguous citizenship practices, from dual nationality tensions to elite emigration. By spotlighting passport revocation now, the ministry amplifies a narrative of exclusivity, suggesting that formal renunciation, though legal, is somehow at odds with national interest. The timing follows increased public debate over high-profile Nigerians acquiring foreign passports or residency, often while maintaining economic or political influence at home.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially those with dual heritage or living abroad, the directive signals a narrowing of national belonging. It affects returnees, investors, and diaspora citizens who may still have property, families, or businesses in Nigeria. While the law supports the revocation, the emphasis on enforcement risks alienating a diaspora that contributes significantly to the economy through remittances and investment.
This fits a broader pattern of using administrative tools to project firm governance, even when the actual impact is minimal.
