FG Orders Immediate Withdrawal of Passports from Nigerians Who Renounce Citizenship

Interior Ministry enforces constitutional provision as part of broader border security and identity reforms

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By A1 News International | Abuja, Nigeria

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports from individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship, in a move aimed at tightening identity controls and strengthening border security.

The directive, issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, signals a stricter enforcement of constitutional provisions governing nationality and official documentation.

According to a statement released in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Babatunde Alao, the directive mandates the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately deactivate passports belonging to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been formally approved.

The minister clarified that the action applies specifically to cases where renunciation requests have been endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in line with constitutional procedures.

Constitutional Backing and Legal Implications
Tunji-Ojo cited Section 29(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that citizenship renunciation becomes effective upon registration by the President.

Once such registration is completed, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen and, by implication, loses the legal right to possess sovereign identification documents, including the Nigerian passport.

“Once a person ceases to be a citizen, they can no longer hold sovereign documents like the Nigerian passport,” the minister stated.

Legal analysts note that while the provision is not new, its strict enforcement raises questions about compliance monitoring, record accuracy, and potential gaps in coordination between executive approval and immigration databases.

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Security and System Integrity Concerns
The directive is part of a broader government push to reform passport issuance and visa systems, with a focus on curbing identity fraud, document abuse, and cross-border security risks.

Officials argue that allowing non-citizens to retain Nigerian passports poses significant vulnerabilities, including potential misuse for international travel, financial transactions, and illicit activities.

However, investigations indicate that enforcement consistency may be a critical challenge, particularly in tracking individuals who have completed renunciation processes abroad or those whose records are not fully digitised.

Oversight and Implementation Questions
While the ministry insists the policy strengthens national security, stakeholders are raising concerns about transparency in the approval and notification process for renounced citizens.

Questions also remain about how quickly the NIS can synchronise presidential approvals with real-time passport deactivation, and whether safeguards exist to prevent wrongful withdrawal in disputed or pending cases.

Immigration experts say the effectiveness of the directive will depend largely on data integration, inter-agency coordination, and the robustness of identity verification systems.

The Federal Government’s directive underscores a renewed focus on tightening control over national identity and travel documentation.

As implementation begins, attention will shift to how effectively authorities can enforce the policy without creating administrative bottlenecks or unintended legal disputes.