The Federal Government has instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve and deactivate passports belonging to individuals who have formally given up their Nigerian citizenship.

This directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through a statement released by his media aide, Alao Babatunde, on Saturday. It applies to persons whose applications to renounce their citizenship have received presidential approval.

According to the minister, the action is rooted in constitutional provisions that govern the process of relinquishing nationality. He explained that once a renunciation is duly registered by the President, the individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen and, by extension, is no longer entitled to hold official Nigerian travel documents.

Tunji-Ojo noted that the ministry, which oversees matters relating to citizenship and migration, considers the measure necessary to uphold the integrity of the country’s identity management system. He said the move also aligns with ongoing reforms in passport issuance and visa administration.

The minister added that the new order addresses a loophole that previously allowed some former citizens to continue travelling with Nigerian passports despite having legally severed their ties to the country.

He emphasised that the government remains focused on tightening border control systems, preventing identity-related abuses, and ensuring that only eligible persons have access to Nigeria’s sovereign documents while still supporting lawful travel.