Nigerian Passport Surges to 5-Year High, Climbs to 88th in Global Rankings

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a remarkable turnaround, the Nigerian passport has achieved its strongest performance in half a decade, soaring to the 88th position out of 199 countries in the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18. This marks a significant milestone for Nigeria, reflecting a modest but notable improvement in its global mobility standing.

The Henley Passport Index, a globally recognized ranking compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), evaluates passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Nigeria now shares the 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar, up from its 91st position earlier this year and a notable climb from 92nd in 2024.

Despite this progress, the Nigerian passport still grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 45 countries, a figure unchanged from last year.

Nigeria’s passport ranking has seen significant fluctuations over recent years. In July 2023, it stood at 90th, only to plummet to 97th later that year, trailing behind African nations such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia. The passport hit a low of 103rd in 2021, with a slight recovery to 98th in 2022.

The latest ranking of 88th signals a positive shift, though Nigeria remains near the bottom of African passport rankings, surpassing only six countries on the continent: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.

Across Africa, Seychelles continues to lead as the continent’s most powerful passport, despite slipping from 22nd to 24th globally. Seychellois citizens enjoy visa-free access to 156 countries, a stark contrast to Nigeria’s limited travel freedom. Globally, Singapore retains its dominance as the world’s most powerful passport, granting access to 193 destinations.

The latest ranking of 88th signals a positive shift, though Nigeria remains near the bottom of African passport rankings, surpassing only six countries on the continent

At the opposite end, Afghanistan languishes as the weakest, with visa-free access to just 25 countries. The United States, once a global leader in 2014, has seen its passport drop to 10th place, reflecting broader shifts in global mobility dynamics. For Nigeria, the climb to 88th offers hope, but challenges remain in expanding visa-free access and improving diplomatic relations to boost travel freedom for its citizens.

The Nigerian government has yet to comment officially on the latest ranking, but the improvement is likely to be seen as a positive development amid ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s global standing. However, experts note that systemic issues, such as lengthy visa processes for Nigerians and limited reciprocal visa agreements, continue to hinder greater progress.

The United States, once a global leader in 2014, has seen its passport drop to 10th place, reflecting broader shifts in global mobility dynamics

As the rainy season exacerbates public health challenges like the ongoing cholera outbreak in Niger State, Nigeria’s modest passport ranking gain offers a rare piece of encouraging news. For Nigerian travelers, the climb to 88th represents a step toward greater global mobility, though significant work remains to match the travel freedom enjoyed by top-ranked nations.

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