The Nigerian passport has recently been spotlighted among the top ten weakest travel documents globally, as revealed by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index.
Occupying the tenth position among 199 countries, Nigeria’s passport faces challenges in facilitating international travel.
The ranking, determined by the Destination Significance Score (DSS), scrutinizes passports based on various factors including entry policies, GDP, and human development. A lower DSS signifies a weaker global standing for the passport.
Nigeria shares this ranking with countries such as North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia. In contrast, passports from Singapore, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany rank among the strongest globally.
Factors such as visa-free travel, electronic authorizations, and entry bans play significant roles in the evaluation process. Higher DSS scores for destination countries indicate greater passport value.
The Henley Passport Index also places the Nigerian passport among the bottom 10 worldwide, granting holders access to only 45 countries without a visa requirement.
Nigeria’s passport trails behind South Africa, with South African passport holders enjoying visa-free access to 108 nations. Surprisingly, Nigeria ranks lower than Burundi, Liberia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Congo Brazzaville, signaling a decline in credibility on the international stage.
Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, and Nigér Republic all surpass Nigeria in passport rankings.
This decline in passport strength is not a recent development. Last year, Nigeria ranked 180th among 199 nations, reflecting a persistent downward trend over the years.
The ranking underscores the challenges Nigerian passport holders encounter when traveling abroad and underscores the urgent need for improvements in international relations and policies to bolster passport strength.
