The administration of Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship, in a move aimed at tightening identity control.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to enforce the policy without delay. According to the government, the measure applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation has been officially processed and endorsed by the President.
Authorities explained that the decision is grounded in Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution, which clearly states that once a renunciation is registered, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen. As a result, such persons are no longer entitled to hold or use Nigerian passports or any official travel documents issued by the country.
Tunji-Ojo noted that the move is part of broader reforms to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship system. He revealed that past lapses allowed some former citizens to continue using Nigerian passports despite legally giving up their nationality, creating loopholes that could be exploited.
The government says this directive is designed to close those gaps by ensuring that all national records accurately reflect current citizenship status. It also aligns with ongoing efforts to modernise passport systems, improve data verification, and meet international standards in border control and identity management.
Officials further emphasized that maintaining the credibility of Nigerian passports is crucial for national security and global trust. The ministry warned that any attempt to retain or use a Nigerian passport after renouncing citizenship will be treated as a violation of the law.
With this step, the government is reinforcing the principle that national identity documents must strictly match an individual’s legal status, while also strengthening oversight across Nigeria’s immigration system.