Nigeria Loses 20 Visa-Free Destinations In Latest Passport Ranking
Nigeria has lost access to 20 visa-free destinations, with the country’s passport ranking falling from 90th position in July 2026 to 181st in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index. Data published on IziVisa.com show…
Passport rankings such as the one published by IziVisa are compiled from official government and immigration data on visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa arrangements that countries extend to each other's citizens, and are widely used to gauge a nation's diplomatic standing and the ease with which its citizens can travel internationally. A country's position on these indexes can shift due to new bilateral agreements, the suspension of reciprocal arrangements, security concerns, or stricter immigration policies adopted by destination countries.
Nigeria's passport has historically ranked among the weaker in global mobility indexes, with citizens facing visa requirements for the majority of the world's countries. The reported drop from 90th to 181st position, and the loss of access to 20 previously visa-free destinations, would mark a notable deterioration if confirmed, though neither Leadership nor BusinessDay's coverage specifies which countries withdrew visa-free access or the reasons behind the policy changes. It remains unclear whether the shift reflects reciprocal diplomatic measures, changes in Nigeria's own visa policy toward other nations, or broader recalibrations in how IziVisa compiles its index.