Nigeria has moved up one step to 91st place in the latest world passport ranking among 199 countries, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. Though this is a marginal upgrade of the nation’s position globally, it does not make a significant difference for Nigerian travelers.
The country still enjoys visa-free access to just 45 nations—the same number as in the previous year—that indicates sustained limitations on travel options. Nigeria now ranks 91st alongside Ethiopia and Myanmar, two nations plagued by security issues.
In Africa, the Nigerian passport is still one of the weakest, only ranking higher than a few nations that include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.
It was the sixth worst passport in Africa last year and seventh this year. Despite the marginal improvement, Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Yusuf Tuggar, insists the country is making progress in rebranding its image globally.
Speaking at a ministerial media briefing in Abuja, he explained that the government had taken steps to revive Nigeria’s image abroad, particularly by ensuring the release of unfairly imprisoned Nigerians in unspecified countries.
However, he failed to give concrete steps to further promote Nigeria’s image abroad. The ranking of Nigeria’s passport has remained volatile in recent periods. In July 2023, it was ranked 90th but subsequently fell to 97th, behind countries like Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia. It, nevertheless, regained its strength in 2024 to climb to 92nd before its current 91st position.
Seychelles, nevertheless, remains Africa’s best-ranked passport, climbing in the world ranking to 22nd with visa-free travel to 156 countries. At the global level, Singapore has the most powerful passport, enjoying access to 193 countries, with Afghanistan being the weakest with access to just 25.
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Olawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.
