The Nigerian passport has climbed to 88th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking its highest position in the last five years
This improvement comes after a gradual rebound from previous lows, placing Nigeria alongside Ethiopia and Myanmar in the global ranking.
According to the index released on July 18, 2025, Nigerian passport holders can now travel to 45 countries either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access. While this represents a step forward, the passport still ranks among the lowest in Africa in terms of travel freedom.
Over the past two decades, Nigeria’s passport has experienced a significant decline in strength. It reached its peak ranking of 62nd in 2006 but dropped to a low of 103rd in 2021. The recent jump to 88th reflects a slow but steady recovery.
Despite the improvement, Nigeria still lags behind several African countries including Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, and Seychelles, whose passports offer access to more destinations without a visa.
Within the continent, only a few nations—such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia—rank lower than Nigeria in passport strength.
While the new ranking signals progress, experts say further diplomatic efforts and policy reforms are needed to improve Nigeria’s global mobility and strengthen its passport power.
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