Restoring the dignity of Nigeria’s passport

NIGERIA’S diminished stature in the comity of nations reflects in the global ranking accorded its passport and the travel document holder. This is reinforced by the recent global travel data from the 2024 Henley Passport Index, which highlights the stringent access and mobility restrictions for its citizens.

President Bola Tinubu should evaluate and invest in Nigeria’s perception management. He should combat corruption, improve the various developmental indices, tackle insecurity, and improve living standards to curb the pull-and-push factors of irregular migration.

In the assessment, Nigeria is ranked 92 out of 199 passports and 227 destinations. Its citizens can only access 45 countries without restrictions. It shares this abysmal profile with Lebanon and Myanmar.

However, the country gained a marginal advancement in the previous years, as the passport improved from 103rd in 2021 to 98th in 2022 and 97th in 2023. This is inadequate.

Conversely, its continental counterparts, South Africa (47), Botswana (56), Papua New Guinea (59), Namibia (61), Lesotho (63), and Eswatini (64) are faring better in the rankings.

The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association. The data evaluates the visa access required for passport holders, such as No Visa Required, Visa on Arrival, Visitor’s Permit, or Electronic Travel Authority.

The report stated that Africans are constricted by discriminatory restrictions due to pervasive poverty and poor per-capita income in their countries. The limited economic mobility imposed on their countries is also due to illegal overstays, the low rate of return and readmission of Africans illegally present in Europe, and the strength of the passport.

With the currency falling, Nigerians grapple with the humongous cost of applying for visas and bear the trauma of visa rejections. Schengen Visa Statistics state that Nigeria is among the countries of origin with the most rejected visa applications in the world.

Although infinitesimal improvements were witnessed, the number of rejected visa applications from Nigeria spiked from 46,404 to 62,099 between 2022 and 2023. Nigerians spent €8.4 million for Schengen visa applications, filing 105,926 in 2023 alone—the highest in five years.

Therefore, the government should make Nigeria a more liveable country through improved infrastructure, security, healthcare, and education. This will stem the tide of migration. It should create a robust mechanism to clamp down on endemic corruption while fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.

Crucially, the government must reverse negative perceptions, including its profile as a major entry point for drug traffickers and the prevalence of cybercrime. It should invest in highlighting the country’s excellence abroad and at home through its national communication agencies, embassies, and MDAs. It should scrutinise and fund the embassies to avoid embarrassing reports of corruption and the inability to meet basic statutory obligations.

Nigerians are among the most highly educated demographics in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Nigerian medical professionals are sought after in various countries. Nigeria’s national cultures are deeply appreciated by African Americans and scholars all over the world. The government must bolster the positives and counter the negative perception by correcting pointers that strengthen negative stereotypes.

Citizens have a role in creating the right impressions about the country. While many Nigerians in the diaspora are blazing the trail in a positive light, a few besmirch the country’s image. Citizens should engage others within the ambits of the law and international best practices in their chosen fields.

Nigeria can draw valuable lessons from countries with highly regarded passports. The report places Singapore at number one, with its passport holders accessing 195 of 199 countries. Through several years of deep and concerted socioeconomic reforms, the country has improved its citizens’ living standards and enhanced their international mobility.