The Nigerian passport has fallen 32 places in the global passport ranking over the last two decades, according to Henley Passport Index reports from 2006 to 2025.
According to Punch, the index ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free or with visa-on-arrival arrangements.
While the Nigerian passport gained access to 11 additional destinations over this period, it slipped from 62nd place in 2006 to 94th in 2025.
The green passport now grants access to 46 destinations visa-free or with visa-on-arrival programs, up from 35 in 2006. However, Nigerians still face restrictions in over 181 destinations globally.
As of January 2025, travellers with Nigerian passports could enter only 25 countries visa-free. This figure rises to 46 destinations when including visa-on-arrival and e-visa programs.
Countries offering Nigerians visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or e-visa access include several in Africa, such as Benin, Ghana, The Gambia, and Senegal, as well as nations in other regions like Iran, Maldives, Fiji, and Antigua and Barbuda.
OsunDailyNG learnt that the Nigerian passport has slightly improved in recent years, climbing from 103rd in 2021 to 94th in 2025.
Despite this, its overall standing among 199 countries and 227 travel destinations studied continues to reflect limited global mobility.
The Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association, attributes changes in ranking to efforts by countries to strengthen diplomatic relations, modernise visa processes, and enhance border security measures.
A stronger ranking, the report noted, often reflects the success of these measures, while declines indicate gaps in international collaboration and travel facilitation.
