Nigeria's passport comeback: 103 to 90

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00:00Nigeria has recorded a significant leap in the 2026 Henle Passport Index.

00:07For the first time in years, the green passport is gaining ground, moving up 14 places

00:12from a historic low of 103rd to the new position at 89th in the world.

00:19The January 2026 data shows that Nigerian citizens can now access 44 destinations

00:26without a prior visa. This includes a mix of visa-free entry,

00:31visas on arrival, and electronic travel authorizations.

00:36While the jump from 103 to 89 is a clear victory for recent diplomatic efforts, it is a story of

00:44recovery rather than total dominance. To give you some perspective, back in 2006,

00:50the Nigerian passport sat comfortably at 62nd. Today's ranking of 89th places Nigeria on par

00:59with Myanmar, but still trailing behind African leaders like Seychelles at 24th and South Africa

01:07at 48th. What is driving this upward trend? Analysts point to two major factors. First,

01:15the Minister of Interior's aggressive digitalization of passport process. By introducing a poorly cabinet

01:22technology and automated issuance, Nigeria has improved the international security profile

01:29of its travel document. By simplifying entry for foreign investors, Nigeria is beginning to see the

01:36nation's return the favor, moving up into an e-visa or simplified entry categories in regions like East

01:45Africa and the Caribbean. However, the report isn't without its challenges. Despite the rise,

01:54Nigeria remains the 7th least powerful passport in Africa. The mobility gap is still wide,

02:01while a Singaporean passport holder can jet off to 192 countries, a Nigerian traveler is still restricted

02:10to 44 countries. Experts suggest that for Nigeria to break back into the top 60, the government must secure

02:18more formal bilateral visa waiver agreement with major economies in Asia and South America. For now,

02:28the move to 89th is a positive signal that Nigeria is moving in the right direction. It's a small step

02:36for travelers, but a giant leap for the country's global standing.