-Nigerian Passport Ranks Among Worst Passports in the World
-Visa-on-Arrival Denials and Reduced Travel Options Plague Nigerian Passport Holders
The Nigerian passport is facing a troubling decline, mirroring the struggles of the Naira. Travel for Nigerians has become increasingly difficult, with visa-on-arrival rejections from multiple countries due to the global ‘devaluation’ of the green passport.
In the recently released third-quarter Henley Passport Index, a respected ranking system based on visa-free access, Nigeria plummeted to the bottom of the list, joining the ranks of countries with the world’s least desirable passports. Nigerian passport holders now enjoy visa-free access to a mere 46 countries, marking a stark decline.
The Nigerian passport’s status has deteriorated significantly, aligning it with countries such as Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others, in the list of the world’s 20 worst passports. Travelers are increasingly required to obtain prior visas, reducing the ease of international travel for Nigerians.
Naziru Mikail Abubakar, who recently embarked on a journey from Abuja to Gothenburg for the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC), shared his ordeal. Upon arriving in Istanbul, he found that his Nigerian passport no longer allowed him to obtain a Turkish e-visa, a privilege he once enjoyed. Similar restrictions have emerged in several other countries, hampering the travel options for Nigerian tourists and travelers.
Last year, Ethiopia ceased issuing visa-on-arrival for Nigerian citizens. Ethiopian Airlines recently announced that Nigerian passengers must now obtain their visas at the Ethiopian embassy in Abuja before traveling. Passengers with overnight layovers in Addis Ababa are exempt from this ban.
The difficulties don’t end there, as visa applications to South Africa have dwindled due to prolonged delays and denials for Nigerian passport holders.
Following Nigeria, other countries grappling with weak passports include South Sudan, Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Kosovo, Libya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, North Korea, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
On the brighter side, Singapore currently boasts the world’s most powerful passport, surpassing Japan’s long-held position. The Henley Passport Index has witnessed a significant reshuffle, with Germany, Italy, and Spain securing the second spot. Japan shares the third rank with six other countries.
The most influential passports globally, according to the Henley Passport Index, are as follows:
- Singapore — visa-free access to 192 countries
- Germany, Italy, and Spain — visa-free access to 190 countries
- Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden — visa-free access to 189 countries
- Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom — visa-free access to 188 countries
- Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland — visa-free access to 187 countries
- Australia, Hungary, and Poland — visa-free access to 186 countries
- Canada and Greece — visa-free access to 185 countries
- Lithuania and the United States — visa-free access to 184 countries
- Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia — visa-free access to 183 countries
- Estonia and Iceland — visa-free access to 182 countries.
Nigerian passport holders hope for a brighter future, as efforts to enhance its global standing continue.