By Stephen Simon
Nigeria’s passport has slipped to 90th position in the latest global passport ranking, highlighting the continued travel restrictions faced by many Nigerian citizens despite the country’s growing diplomatic engagements across the world.
The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, released by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, ranked the Nigerian passport 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with holders able to access only 44 destinations without obtaining a visa before departure.
The latest ranking represents a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th position in the April 2026 index, although the country’s visa-free access score remained unchanged at 44 destinations. The drop reflects improvements recorded by other countries rather than any reduction in Nigeria’s visa-free access.
Henley & Partners said the index is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and measures the number of destinations passport holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance. The ranking is widely regarded as one of the leading indicators of global travel freedom.
Among African countries, South Africa retained the continent’s strongest passport, ranking 49th globally with visa-free access to 101 destinations. Botswana followed in second place in Africa, while Namibia, Lesotho and Morocco also ranked significantly ahead of Nigeria.
Nigeria now shares the 90th position with a small number of other countries whose citizens also enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 44 destinations. Analysts say the ranking reflects the growing importance of diplomatic relations, reciprocal visa agreements and international cooperation in determining global mobility.
Globally, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport with access to 192 destinations without a prior visa, while Japan ranked second. Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the index, offering its citizens the least travel freedom worldwide.
The latest report is expected to renew calls for Nigeria to strengthen bilateral relations, expand visa waiver agreements and improve its international standing to enhance the global mobility of its citizens and create greater opportunities for business, tourism and investment.
