ABUJA, July 24, 2025
Nigeria’s international passport has made a significant leap in global mobility rankings, climbing to the 88th position, its highest ranking in five years, according to the latest report by Henley & Partners.
The 2025 Henley Passport Index, which measures the travel freedom of passports based on the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa, revealed that Nigerian passport holders can now travel to 47 countries either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access. This marks a modest but notable improvement from the previous year’s ranking of 90th.
Experts attribute the development to Nigeria’s increased diplomatic engagements, recent bilateral agreements, and improved global perception of its security and governance framework.
Reacting to the news, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, said the new ranking reflects ongoing reforms in the immigration sector and the federal government’s diplomatic drive to expand Nigeria’s global access. “Our passport is gradually regaining value, and this progress is a testament to our commitment to restoring confidence in Nigerian travel documents,” she stated.
Despite the improvement, Nigeria still trails behind several African countries such as Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa, which occupy higher positions due to broader visa agreements and stronger institutional trust globally.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its intention to continue negotiating more favourable visa arrangements with international partners while enhancing passport integrity and citizen services.
Analysts believe that sustained governance reforms, economic stability, and reduced travel restrictions could further improve Nigeria’s global mobility rating in coming years.