FG Orders Passports Withdrawal of Nigerians Who Renounce Citizenship

The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports issued to individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the directive, stressing that some persons who have completed the renunciation process continue to retain Nigerian travel documents unlawfully.

“This directive applies to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have formally been approved by the President,” the minister said.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Alao Babatunde, the minister said the action is rooted in constitutional provisions governing citizenship status.

He cited Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the legal process for renunciation and its consequences.

Quoting the law, Tunji-Ojo stated that “(1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

“(2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria”.

He explained that once citizenship is relinquished, the individual is no longer entitled to possess any Nigerian sovereign document, including an international passport.

The minister noted that the directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening identity management and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s citizenship framework.

“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 added.