Tunji-Ojo orders withdrawal of passports from Nigerians who have renounced citizenship

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The 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 was announced in a statement signed by Babatunde, the special adviser on media to the Minister on Friday.

According to the statement, the directive applies to Nigerians whose requests for renunciation have formally been approved by the President.

Tunji-Ojo further added that the directive is in line with responsibility of the Ministry of Interior on citizenship integrity, derives the power from the provisions of subsections (1) (2) of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)

He quoted the section of the constitution as indicating that “(1) 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.

(2) 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”.

The Minister therefore said once a person ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria, he can no longer carry any sovereign document of Nigeria, including the Nation’s passport.

Tunji-Ojo further stated that the move is consistent with the passport and visa reforms which the Ministry has undertaken within the past few years.

“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,” the Minister noted.