The Nigerian authorities has not replied to the request by LEADERSHIP to answer a disturbing report that the nation has misplaced entry to 20 visa-free locations, with the nation’s passport rating falling from ninetieth place in July 2026 to 181st within the newest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index.
LEADERSHIP reported on Tuesday that information revealed on IziVisa.com present that Nigerian passport holders can journey to 24 international locations and not using a visa, receive visas on arrival in 16 international locations, and entry 43 international locations via digital visas.
The newest figures characterize a decline from the 44 locations Nigerians may go to and not using a visa in July 2026, highlighting lowered journey entry for holders of the nation’s passport.
In a press release on its web site, IziVisa defined that passports are ranked by the variety of locations their holders can entry with out acquiring a visa prematurely.
At the time of submitting this up to date report, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, had but to answer our request concerning this improvement, regardless of calls and messages despatched to him.
However, a overseas affairs analyst, who most popular anonymity, bemoaned the scenario, stressing that “it is a sad situation for the country, which demonstrates how low the country has sunk among the comity of nations” whilst he challenged the Nigerian authorities to, as a matter of urgency, attempt to take away the nation from this unlucky path.
The LEADERSHIP preliminary report famous that the index considers totally different classes of journey entry, together with visa-free entry, visas on arrival and digital visas, to evaluate the worldwide mobility obtainable to passport holders.
The United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa rating, with its passport offering entry to 185 of 198 documented locations via visa-free entry, visas on arrival or digital visas.
Switzerland occupies second place, with entry to 120 locations and not using a visa, 26 locations providing visas on arrival and 37 accessible via digital visas.
Other international locations that includes prominently within the rating embrace Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
IziVisa stated the variations between passports on the high and backside of its rating illustrate disparities in entry to worldwide journey. The index makes use of the variety of locations accessible and not using a prior visa as a measure of freedom of motion.
Separately, the July 2026 version of the Henley Passport Index positioned Nigeria ninetieth out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with a visa-free rating of 44 locations.
The rating, launched by Henley & Partners, represented a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th place within the April 2026 version, though its visa-free rating remained unchanged at 44 locations.
According to Henley & Partners, the index marked the organisation’s twentieth anniversary and assessed 199 passports in opposition to 227 journey locations utilizing information from the International Air Transport Association.
Among African international locations, South Africa ranked forty ninth globally, with visa-free entry to 101 locations. Botswana adopted in 61st place, with entry to 81 locations, whereas Morocco ranked 67th with 71 locations.
Kenya occupied 68th place, with entry to 70 locations, whereas Ghana ranked seventieth with a visa-free rating of 67.
Nigeria ranked alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan within the Henley Passport Index, with every passport providing visa-free entry to 44 locations.
However, the reported IziVisa rating shouldn’t be handled as immediately akin to the Henley Passport Index, as the 2 rankings use totally different methodologies and vacation spot protection.
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