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After years of decline, the Nigerian passport has made a remarkable improvement in global travel standing. In the latest ranking released by Henley & Partners, Nigeria moved up from 103rd to 89th position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index. Under the new ranking, Nigerian passport holders can travel to about 44 destinations without a prior visa, including countries that grant visa on arrival, electronic travel authorisation or visitor permits. The Henley report highlights a growing global mobility gap.
While passport power has increased worldwide over the past two decades, it says the benefits have been unevenly distributed. Citizens of the highest ranked nations can travel to nearly 200 destinations without visas, while those at the bottom of the index have access to fewer than 30.
It is heartwarming that the Nigerian passport is bouncing back to global reckoning. In recent years, Nigerians have faced restrictive entry requirements across Europe, North America and parts of Asia, which has significantly affected the overall ranking of its passport. The Henley Passport Index is regarded as the world’s leading reference for assessing passport strength. It ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa before travel. The index relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s largest and most comprehensive travel information database. It is further enhanced by Henley & Partners’ in-house research.
It is appalling that Nigeria, despite being one of the three most important African nations, has had a weak international passport ranking for years. This has caused limitations in international mobility for Nigerian citizens desirous of travelling. Comparatively, the passports of smaller African nations, like Seychelles and Mauritius, have continued to rank significantly higher. In fact, higher passport ranking offers broader visa-free access to citizens of these African countries.
According to the Henley Passport Index, the passport of the island nation of Seychelles remains Africa’s strongest passport. In the 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retains its number one position in the world. Its passport provides visa-free access to more than 190 destinations. The Japanese passport follows in second position. European countries like Germany, Spain, France and Italy are equally strong, providing its citizens access to over 180 destinations without prior visas.
We applaud the federal government for its efforts in strengthening the Nigerian passport. Nigerians are one of the most travelled people in Africa, and we need a stronger international passport to access more countries without visa restrictions. Limited passport strength has impacted trade, education, tourism and migration of many Nigerians. It is unacceptable that Nigerian travellers face lengthy visa application processes, high fees and strict documentation requirements globally. Unfortunately, this has hampered business opportunities and international exposure millions of Nigerians need.
We enjoin the government to sustain the diplomatic engagement to shore up the value of the Nigerian passport. It should also work towards improving migration management, as well as develop stronger international partnerships to enhance the global mobility of Nigerian travellers. Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) puts the population of Nigerians in diaspora at about 17 million. Nigeria also ranks fourth among African countries for diaspora population. The diaspora population has also contributed to the Nigerian economy.
According to the United Nations, remittances from diaspora communities rank as Nigeria’s second largest foreign exchange source, after oil. This highlights the powerful role of migrants in strengthening national economies while uplifting their families. Beyond that, the diaspora communities contribute to education, entrepreneurship, and advocacy back home.
With over 220 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth most populous in the world. It is expected that global mobility of its citizens Nigeria must be harnessed in the areas of financial capital, intellectual power, and cultural knowledge to co-create Nigeria’s future. Already, Nigeria’s cultural influence and entrepreneurial energy have made it a cornerstone of Africa. In the United States, the world’s leading economy, Nigerian-Americans are among the most educated and economically successful immigrants. Nigerians reportedly have a higher percentage of advanced degrees than the general U.S. population. Also, the Nigerian diaspora’s household incomes exceed the national averages.
In 2024 alone, the Nigerian diaspora sent home about $21 billion in remittances, surpassing foreign direct investment. With increased global mobility, Nigeria would benefit from transformational investments that come with increased global mobility. We call for a stronger Nigerian passport.
