Nigeria’s passport has recorded a modest improvement in global ranking, climbing to 89th position in the latest Henley Passport Index released in April 2026. This represents a gain of six places from its position when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
However, the ranking improvement masks a decline in actual travel freedom. Nigerian passport holders can now access only 44 countries visa-free or with visa on arrival, down from 46 destinations previously.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measures the number of destinations holders can visit without a prior visa. Nigeria’s rise in the ranking is partly attributed to other lower-ranked countries slipping further, rather than a substantial strengthening of the Nigerian passport itself.
Gains and Losses in Visa-Free Access
Between early 2025 and April 2026, Nigeria gained visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to nine new destinations, including **Fiji, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, Samoa, Palau, Niue, and Montserrat**.
However, access was revoked or tightened in seven countries: **Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Somalia**. Several of these nations shifted from visa-on-arrival policies to requiring full visa applications through embassies.
Regional Standing
Nigeria continues to lag behind most of its West African neighbours:
Ghana — 67th (67 destinations)
The Gambia— 66th (68 destinations)
Senegal — 77th (56 destinations)
Across Africa, **South Africa** holds the continent’s strongest passport (46th globally with access to around 100 destinations), followed by countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Morocco, and Kenya.
Globally, **Singapore** tops the index with visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea.
Underlying Challenges
Experts link the relatively weak performance of the Nigerian passport to domestic factors, including economic hardship, high youth unemployment, and perceived migration pressures. Charles Onunaiju, Research Director at the Centre for China Studies, noted that many countries have tightened entry rules for Nigerians due to concerns over permanent migration.
A former senior official of the Nigeria Immigration Service emphasised that passport strength depends heavily on diplomatic relations, bilateral agreements, and regional cooperation rather than document quality alone. The agency is focusing on modernising passport technology and meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
Despite the mixed results, the government has made efforts to improve passport services, including digitisation and faster processing times. However, analysts say meaningful improvement in global mobility will require stronger economic performance, better diplomatic engagement, and enhanced international perception of Nigeria.
