Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo says directive targets only officially approved renunciation cases as government moves to tighten identity, border and document security.

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and deactivation of Nigerian international passports from individuals who have formally renounced their citizenship.

The directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to enforce the policy without delay.

According to the Minister, the order applies strictly to persons whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been officially approved by the President, in line with Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He explained that once an individual ceases to be a Nigerian citizen, they automatically lose the legal entitlement to hold any sovereign document issued by the country, including the Nigerian passport.

Tunji-Ojo said the measure is part of wider reforms aimed at strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s identity management system, blocking opportunities for identity fraud, and improving border control and national security.

He added that the ongoing reforms in the Ministry of Interior are designed to ensure that only eligible citizens retain access to Nigerian travel documents, in line with global best practices.

Officials say the policy is also intended to sanitize the passport system and reinforce the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship amid rising concerns over global migration trends and dual nationality cases.