FG Orders Immediate Deactivation of Travel Documents for Those Who Renounce Nigerian Citizenship; Minister Cites Constitution to Protect National Identity

The Federal Government has “flipped the script” on those seeking to walk away from their Nigerian nationality while keeping their travel privileges. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued a stern directive to the Nigeria Immigration Service to “mop up” and deactivate the passports of former citizens. The “Solution” to potential identity misuse is a total digital shutdown of travel documents once a renunciation is officially registered by the President.

The “Renewed Hope” for a more secure identity system is the driving force behind this latest reform. According to the Minister’s media aide, Alao Babatunde, the order is a direct application of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution. “Once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, they can no longer carry any sovereign document of the nation,” the statement read. By “tinkering” with the immigration database, the government is ensuring that the Nigerian passport remains a “Drill or Drop” symbol of genuine national belonging.

This “Tsunami” of administrative tightening comes as the Ministry of Interior continues a broader wave of passport and visa reforms. While the government has not released specific figures on how many people renounce their citizenship annually, the message is clear: citizenship is a package deal. If you choose to leave the “digital trenches” of the Nigerian identity, you must also leave behind the privileges of the green passport.

As the NIS begins nationwide compliance checks, the Minister emphasized that this is about “preserving the sanctity” of what it means to be Nigerian. For those who have already moved on to other nationalities and officially cut ties, the government’s message is final: the passport is no longer yours to keep.