By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship but still carry the documents. This move is aimed at strengthening systems that secure Nigeria’s borders and preventing identity fraud.
According to a press release from Alao Babatunde, SA Media to the Minister of Interior, the directive applies to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have formally been approved by the President. The Minister cited the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which state that a person who renounces their Nigerian citizenship shall cease to be a citizen and can no longer carry any sovereign document of Nigeria, including the nation’s passport.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, they can no longer hold onto Nigerian passports. He added that this move is consistent with the passport and visa reforms undertaken by the Ministry in recent years.
The Minister noted that the move is aimed at preserving the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship and facilitating legitimate travel while preventing unauthorized or ineligible access. He assured that the Ministry will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders and prevent identity fraud.
The Nigeria Immigration Service is expected to act swiftly on the Minister’s directive, ensuring that passports of Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship are withdrawn and deactivated.
This development is seen as part of the government’s efforts to enhance national security and ensure that Nigeria’s citizenship laws are respected.
