Concerns are growing over the declining strength of the Nigerian passport, with migration experts warning that the issue now goes beyond travel restrictions and could negatively affect the country’s economy, global reputation, business opportunities, and international competitiveness.
The warning follows recent reports showing that Nigeria’s visa-free access dropped from 46 to 44 destinations despite a slight improvement in its position on the Henley Passport Index.
Reacting to the development, migration and global citizenship expert Nduneche Ezurike described the situation as a major national concern tied to international trust and diplomatic influence.
According to him, the strength of a country’s passport has become a global measure of institutional credibility, economic stability, and confidence in a nation’s identity systems.
“Passport power is the currency of the 21st century,” Ezurike said, warning that every reduction in visa-free access reflects a decline in international confidence in Nigeria’s security and governance structures.
He explained that the growing mobility challenges are making it harder for Nigerian entrepreneurs, students, professionals, and investors to access opportunities abroad and are also weakening the country’s global competitiveness.
The expert pointed out that several smaller African countries currently enjoy stronger passport access than Nigeria. Countries such as Benin Republic, Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, and The Gambia were highlighted as examples of nations that improved their rankings through stronger diplomacy, reliable identity systems, and international cooperation.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Mexico Reno Omokri recently described Ethiopia’s decision to restore visa-on-arrival access for Nigerians as a diplomatic success achieved through engagement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Despite such progress, analysts insist that isolated diplomatic gains are not enough to solve Nigeria’s wider mobility problems, especially as the country has reportedly dropped about 27 places in global passport rankings since 2006.
Ezurike called on the Federal Government to adopt a long-term strategy focused on rebuilding global trust and improving Nigeria’s international mobility profile.
He recommended the creation of a National Mobility Taskforce involving immigration authorities, foreign affairs officials, NIMC, and security agencies to pursue the restoration of lost visa-free agreements.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s identity management systems and integrating them with international biometric verification standards.
“The world will only trust our passport when they trust our identity systems,” he said.
Analysts warned that without deliberate reforms in diplomacy, governance, and national identity management, Nigeria risks falling further behind in a world where global access increasingly influences economic growth and international relevance.
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