The latest Henley Passport Index has ranked Nigeria’s passport 94th out of 199 countries, underscoring the country’s persistent challenges in global mobility. The ranking released yesterday shows that holders of Nigerian passports can access just 46 destinations around the globe without a visa. Global mobility is an important measure of soft power for a nation’s citizens when they go abroad. …

On the surface, it’s unlikely that I would be penning this particular article. But I am; and happy doing it. Clearly, I am not one known for flattery; that genre just doesn’t fit my frame! Nor am I a prophet of doom. I only seek to experience a good nation; a nation that works for all of us: the weak, …

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has received accolades from Nigerians in his efforts to sanitise the process of the issuance of international passports. The minister was urged to go beyond overseeing the clearing of over 200,000 backlogs of passports by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to institutionalize efficiency and integrity in the service. Participants in an anti-corruption radio …

The Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday, said 55,000 of the 200,000 passports backlog had been cleared. He added that more would be cleared before the end of the two-week deadline given to the Immigration boss, adding that after the backlogs are cleared, Nigerians should be able to obtain their passports in two weeks. He spoke when the Minister …

A flurry of reactions has greeted the alleged banning of Nigerian passport holders from visiting Seychelles for holidays. A Twitter user and travel content creator had shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a Seychelles’ visa application rejection email. The screenshot read: “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now, …

Nigerians applying for passports will be charged N1,000 in Nigeria for the verification of their National Identification Number (NIN). In a statement by its Head, Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke on Monday, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) said the fee is to improve the quality of service, accuracy, and speed of passport services through timely verification of NIN. It stated that …

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Nigerians can now travel back to the country even if their passports have expired. Before now, Nigerians with expired passport were not allowed to travel into the country. In memo to the Ministry dated 9th December titled, ‘Admit Nigerians with Expired Nigeria Passport’, NIS urged airlines …

The Nigerian passport has been ranked 100th out of 199 countries in the 2022 third quarter global passport ranking by the Henley Passport Index. That is one step down the ladder as the Nigerian passport ranked 99th in the Q2 2022 index, placing below some African countries, among which are Ghana, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Mali and Malawi. On the chart, …