‎The Bittersweet Rise of the Nigerian Passport, by Obamodi Oluwadamilola Faith

‎The latest data from the April 2026 Henley Passport Index presents a confusing picture for Nigerian travellers. On one hand, the national passport has climbed six places in the global rankings since the current administration took office in May 2023.
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Nigeria moved from a rank of 95th in early 2024 to 89th today. While a higher rank usually suggests progress, the details behind the numbers show a different reality. Even as the rank improved, the actual freedom to travel has decreased.
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‎The number of countries that Nigerians can visit without a visa has actually fallen. In January 2024, citizens had access to 46 visa-free destinations, but that number has now dropped to 44. This means that while Nigeria is technically “higher” on the list compared to other nations, the physical doors open to its people are slowly closing.
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Countries like Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and several others have moved Nigeria into their “visa required” categories. This shift highlights a gap between international standing and the practical ease of movement.
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‎This situation occurs because the index is a relative measurement. Nigeria’s rank improved mainly because other countries saw their own passport power decline even faster. It is a bit like finishing a race in a better position only because other runners tripped, even though your own time was slower than before. For the average traveller, a rank of 89th means very little when they are required to go through more paperwork and pay more fees for destinations that used to be easily accessible.
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‎True progress for a national passport should be measured by how many borders it can cross without stress. While the jump in rankings might look good in official reports, the loss of visa-free access to two more countries is a step backwards for diplomacy and economic integration.
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For Nigeria to truly empower its citizens on the global stage, the focus must move beyond relative rankings toward securing more bilateral agreements that restore and expand visa-free travel. Until the number of accessible destinations starts to go up instead of down, the climb in the rankings will remain a hollow victory for those holding the green passport.
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