KEY POINTS
- Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo directed the NIS to withdraw or deactivate passports from Nigerians who have formally renounced citizenship
- The directive covers only those whose renunciation the President has formally approved
- Authority derives from Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Saturday ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately execute a Nigerian passport withdrawal for citizens who have renounced their citizenship, covering only those whose formal renunciation the President approved.
“This directive applies to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have formally been approved by the President,” Tunji-Ojo said in a statement his media adviser, Alao Babatunde, signed. The minister also noted that once renunciation takes effect, a former citizen can no longer legally carry any sovereign Nigerian document, including a passport.
Constitutional authority behind the order for Nigerian passport withdrawal
Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo anchored the Nigerian passport withdrawal in Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution. That provision requires the President to register any renunciation declaration, and upon registration the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen.
Furthermore, the minister framed the directive as part of broader passport and visa reforms the Ministry of Interior has pursued in recent years. “We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorized or ineligible access,” he said.
Identity fraud prevention drives reform
Beyond the constitutional basis, Tunji-Ojo identified identity fraud prevention as a key driver for the order. Currently, some individuals hold valid Nigerian passports despite receiving formal presidential approval to renounce their citizenship, a loophole the directive now closes.
Additionally, the Ministry of Interior holds statutory oversight over citizenship integrity, giving Tunji-Ojo direct authority to implement the recall through the immigration service.
