FG Orders Seizure of Passports from Nigerians Who Renounce Citizenship

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The Federal Government has directed the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian passports held by individuals who have officially renounced their citizenship, in a move aimed at tightening identity control and reinforcing the country’s legal framework on nationality.

The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who clarified that the order specifically targets persons whose applications to renounce Nigerian citizenship have already received presidential approval.

According to the minister, it has come to the government’s attention that some former citizens continue to retain and use Nigerian passports despite having legally relinquished their nationality — a situation he described as a violation of the law.

“This directive applies strictly to individuals whose renunciation requests have been duly approved by the President,” Tunji-Ojo stated, stressing that such individuals are no longer entitled to any privileges or identification tied to Nigerian citizenship.

The position of the Federal Government is anchored on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, particularly Section 29, which outlines the legal process and implications of renouncing citizenship. The law provides that any Nigerian of full age who wishes to renounce their citizenship must make a formal declaration, which, upon registration by the President, takes effect immediately.

Once that process is completed, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen in the eyes of the law and, by extension, forfeits the right to possess national documents, including passports.

Reinforcing this stance, Tunji-Ojo explained that Nigerian passports are sovereign documents issued exclusively to citizens, and retaining them after renunciation undermines the integrity of the nation’s identity system.

“Once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, he or she can no longer hold any sovereign document of Nigeria, including the nation’s passport,” he said.

The directive was conveyed in an official statement signed by the minister’s media adviser, Alao Babatunde, who noted that the Nigeria Immigration Service has been tasked with enforcing the order without delay.

The move is part of broader reforms by the Ministry of Interior to modernize Nigeria’s passport and visa systems, enhance border security, and curb identity-related fraud. Authorities say the government is committed to preserving the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship while ensuring that only eligible individuals have access to official travel documents.

Officials further emphasized that the policy is not only a legal necessity but also a strategic step toward strengthening national security and preventing misuse of Nigerian identity on the global stage.

With this development, affected individuals are expected to comply with the directive, as the government intensifies efforts to enforce compliance and maintain the credibility of its citizenship and immigration processes.