‎Nigeria moves up in global passport ranking despite fewer visa-free destinations

‎Nigeria’s passport has improved its position on the global mobility ladder, rising to 89th place on the 2026 Henley Passport Index, despite a decline in the number of countries its holders can access without a visa.
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‎The latest ranking shows the country moved up six places from 95th in January 2024, marking a modest gain in global standing.
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‎However, the improvement comes with a setback. The number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations available to Nigerian passport holders has dropped to 44, down from 46 in 2025 and 45 in 2024.
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‎Analysts attribute the rise in ranking partly to the decline of other countries rather than a significant strengthening of Nigeria’s travel access.
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‎Over recent years, several countries—including Ethiopia and others across Africa—have tightened entry requirements for Nigerian travellers, shifting them into visa-required categories.
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‎At the same time, Nigeria gained access to a number of new destinations, such as Fiji, Samoa, and Rwanda, though not enough to offset the overall reduction.
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‎The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports using data from the International Air Transport Association, highlights the continuing challenges facing Nigerian travellers.
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‎Within Africa, Nigeria remains among the lower-ranked passports, trailing behind countries like Ghana and Senegal in visa-free access.
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‎Experts say the country’s declining travel freedom reflects broader domestic and diplomatic issues, noting that stronger governance and international relations are key to improving global mobility.
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