Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship. This directive targets Nigerians whose renunciation requests have been officially approved by the President, barring them from continuing to hold or use Nigerian travel documents following the completion of that process.
According to Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Interior, Alao Babatunde, the Minister grounded the policy in Section 29, subsections (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The Constitution states that any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce their Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation, and upon registration, the person shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.
The renunciation process involves submitting a formal application letter, obtaining and completing Form G, gathering required documents, paying the processing fee, and taking an oath of renunciation. The President’s office reviews each case and registers the renunciation, after which the individual is no longer a Nigerian citizen.
Renouncing Nigerian citizenship has several implications, including losing the right to vote, limited access to social services, and restrictions on employment opportunities. Individuals who have renounced their citizenship are treated as foreigners under Nigerian law and require visas to visit Nigeria.
The Minister’s directive is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving border governance, modernizing identity management, and aligning Nigeria’s migration systems with global standards. The Nigeria Immigration Service has been working to implement these reforms, including introducing digital solutions and improving administrative processes.
