Federal Government Mandates Passport Retrieval for Citizenship Renouncers
In a significant policy enforcement move, the Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a directive for the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of passports belonging to individuals who have officially renounced their Nigerian citizenship. This instruction comes directly from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who has tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service with executing this mandate promptly.
Constitutional Basis for the Directive
The minister's directive, communicated through a statement released by his Media Adviser, Alao Babatunde, on Saturday, specifically targets Nigerians whose formal requests to renounce citizenship have been accepted and registered by the President. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that this action is grounded in Sections 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.
The constitutional provisions state clearly:
- Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce Nigerian citizenship must make a declaration in the prescribed manner.
- The President shall cause this declaration to be registered, and upon registration, the person shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.
According to the minister, once an individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen through this legal process, they automatically forfeit the right to possess any official Nigerian document, including the national passport. This measure is described as a natural progression within the broader passport and visa reforms that the Ministry of Interior has been implementing over recent years.
Addressing Systemic Vulnerabilities
Tunji-Ojo explained that the latest instruction was specifically designed to rectify a critical loophole that allowed individuals who had formally renounced their citizenship to continue using Nigerian passports for international travel. This practice posed significant risks to border security and identity verification systems.
"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," the minister declared in his statement.
The Nigeria Immigration Service, headquartered in Abuja, is responsible for issuing passports, managing border security, and implementing citizenship and travel policies across the nation. This new directive represents a significant enhancement to their operational protocols regarding citizenship documentation.
Public Concerns Over Passport Affordability
While the government enforces stricter citizenship documentation policies, many Nigerians have expressed growing concerns about the increasing cost of obtaining passports, which threatens to restrict freedom of movement for ordinary citizens. The Nigerian government implemented substantial passport fee increases in September 2024, followed by another doubling of fees in September 2025.
The current fee structure stands as follows:
- Five-year passport: 100,000 Naira (approximately $66)
- Ten-year passport: 200,000 Naira (approximately $133)
This represents an overall increase of 185% from previous rates, creating significant financial strain for many Nigerians. The economic context makes this particularly challenging, with inflation remaining above 30% for twenty consecutive months while the national minimum wage stands at just 70,000 Naira.
Calls for Equitable Passport Pricing
The current flat fee structure fails to account for the vast income disparities within Nigeria's population. The cost of a 64-page passport now equals nearly triple the national minimum wage, creating a substantial barrier to international mobility that affects educational opportunities, business engagements, and professional development.
Advocates suggest that the Nigerian government should consider implementing a tiered pricing system based on passport duration requirements and applicant income levels. Such a system could offer reduced rates for students, low-income earners, and first-time applicants while maintaining standard rates for corporate applicants and frequent travelers.
Verification for reduced rates could utilize existing databases, such as the Bank Verification Number for income assessment or student identity cards from accredited institutions. This approach would align with principles of equity and economic empowerment while ensuring that passport accessibility does not become exclusively available to wealthier citizens.
The Nigeria Immigration Service would need to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Finance to establish clear eligibility criteria for any tiered pricing model. Such reforms would represent a shift from the current revenue-focused approach to one that prioritizes citizen empowerment and equitable access to essential travel documents.
