The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports held by persons who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by his special adviser on media, Alao Babatunde, the directive covers Nigerians whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the president.
Tunji-Ojo said the ministry, saddled with the responsibility of citizenship integrity, derives its authority for the directive from Sections 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The statement quoted the constitutional provision as stating: “(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.”
According to the statement, the minister said once a person ceases to be a citizen, they can no longer hold any sovereign document of Nigeria, including a passport.
He also described the move as consistent with ongoing passport and visa reforms undertaken by the ministry in recent years.
He said the latest directive was aimed at closing a gap that allowed former citizens to continue traveling on Nigerian passports after their renunciation had been officially recognised.
“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 unauthorised or ineligible access,” Tunji-Ojo said.
Meanwhile, students and youth groups in Ondo State have declared support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attributing their decision to the performance and influence of the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The students made this known during a mobilisation gathering held at the secretariat of the Asiwaju Mandate Group, in Akure, the state capital, where representatives from various institutions and youth organisations converged to canvass support for the president ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the event, the chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee in Ondo State, Mayomi Adekanye, said the students’ endorsement of Tinubu was largely driven by Tunji-Ojo’s contributions to student welfare and youth development.
He noted that the minister’s interventions, including bursaries and other support initiatives, have earned him widespread acceptance among students.
He described Tunji-Ojo as a leader whose influence extends beyond his official responsibilities, adding that his track record, both as a former member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko North-West/Akoko North-East Federal Constituency and now as Minister of Interior, has strengthened students’ confidence in the administration.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
