The Federal Government has ordered Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship and adopted other countries as theirs to return their former passports.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the directive to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in a statement signed by his media aide, Alao Babatunde.
Tunji-Ojo said the move applies to individuals whose renunciation requests have been approved by the president, adding that such persons are no longer entitled to hold Nigerian passports.
VDCInsights reports the minister as citing provisions of the 1999 constitution to justify the directive.
The statement reads :“ 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,”.
It further stated ” 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.”
Tunji-Ojo said persons who ceased to be citizens cannot retain sovereign documents.
He said the directive is part of efforts to strengthen citizenship integrity, noting that the move aligns with ongoing passport and visa reforms.
He added “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,”
