The Federal Government has ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to deactivate and withdraw passports held by individuals who have formally renounced Nigerian citizenship. The directive was issued by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who clarified it applies only to those whose renunciation has been officially approved by the President. According to the minister, such individuals cease to be citizens under Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and therefore are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian sovereign documents like passports. The constitutional provision requires that a citizen of full age wishing to renounce citizenship must make a formal declaration, which the President then registers. Upon registration, the person is no longer a Nigerian citizen. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the move is part of broader passport and visa reforms aimed at strengthening border security and preventing identity fraud. The ministry stated the action preserves the integrity of Nigerian citizenship and ensures only eligible persons possess national travel documents.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo's directive to revoke passports from formally renounced citizens is not merely administrative—it signals a tightening of citizenship enforcement in a country where dual nationality has long operated in a grey zone. While the constitutional basis is clear, the timing stands out: this is the first time the government has actively moved to reclaim physical documents after legal renunciation, suggesting a shift from passive record-keeping to active enforcement.
This move gains significance in a context where many Nigerians acquire foreign citizenship while continuing to use Nigerian passports for travel, business, or property ownership. The government's invocation of Section 29(2) of the 1999 Constitution is legally sound, but its implementation now hints at a broader agenda—curbing identity duplication and strengthening border control amid rising concerns over document fraud. The reference to ongoing visa and passport reforms points to a system being recalibrated, possibly in response to international pressure on immigration compliance.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, this creates a clearer consequence for renouncing citizenship: immediate loss of access to Nigerian travel documents. It affects those who may have retained a Nigerian passport for convenience, even after becoming citizens elsewhere.
This action fits a growing pattern of institutional attempts to digitize and tighten identity systems—from the national ID card to passport biometrics—reflecting a state slowly asserting control over its citizenship architecture.
