The Federal Government has ordered a citizenship renunciation passport withdrawal policy, directing the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports held by individuals who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
The directive applies only to persons whose renunciation has been officially approved under constitutional procedures.
The right to renounce Nigerian citizenship is provided for under the 1999 Constitution, which states that a citizen of full age may voluntarily declare renunciation, subject to presidential approval. Once approved and registered, such individuals cease to be citizens of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immigration Service issues passports strictly to citizens, in line with the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and related immigration regulations.
These laws empower the Minister of Interior to withdraw or cancel passports under specific conditions, including loss of citizenship or public interest considerations.
The directive for citizenship renunciation passport withdrawal was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Alao Babatunde.
According to the statement, the Nigeria Immigration Service has been instructed to immediately withdraw and deactivate all Nigerian passports held by individuals whose renunciation of citizenship has been formally approved by the President.
The minister stated that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, they are no longer entitled to hold any sovereign travel document issued by the country, including a passport.
The directive is grounded in Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that renunciation becomes effective upon presidential registration.
The statement further explained that the policy is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening passport integrity, improving border management systems, and reducing identity fraud within the immigration framework.
It also clarified that the measure does not affect Nigerians who have not completed or received approval for renunciation of citizenship.
The citizenship renunciation passport withdrawal policy is expected to reinforce compliance with constitutional provisions governing citizenship status. It also strengthens the administrative link between citizenship records and travel document issuance.
For immigration authorities, the directive may improve data consistency between citizenship databases and passport records. It is also aimed at closing gaps where former citizens could still hold valid Nigerian passports after renunciation approval.
At a broader level, the policy reflects ongoing efforts to modernise Nigeria’s immigration system, particularly in areas related to identity verification and document control.
