However, the actual number of countries Nigerian passport holders can visit without a visa has fallen by two destinations.

This is as Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Somalia, Mauritania and São Tomé and Príncipe, among others, have moved Nigeria to the “visa required” category in recent years.

According to the April 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, Nigeria’s visa-free destinations stand at 44, down from 46 in January 2025 and 45 in January 2024.

The data, drawn from three successive annual editions of the index obtained shows that while Nigeria climbed six places in the overall global ranking from 95th in January 2024 to 89th in April 2026, the actual number of countries accessible to its passport holders without a prior visa shrank by two destinations over the same period.

According to the data, several countries ranked below Nigeria in prior editions have also fallen further in the intervening period, raising Nigeria’s position without necessarily requiring any improvement in the country’s passport strength.

The Henley Passport Index, now in its 21st year, ranks 199 passports globally using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association.

In that time, the Nigerian passport fell 27 places from 62nd in 2006 to 89th in 2026.

A detailed comparison of the 46 destinations from January 2025 against the 44 accessible to Nigerian passport holders as of April 2026, verified against the Henley country-specific destination document obtained by our correspondent, revealed that while Nigeria gained access to nine new destinations including Fiji, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, Samoa, Palau Islands, Niue and Montserrat between 2025 and 2026, it simultaneously lost access to seven countries over the years.

The most well-documented is Ethiopia, which scrapped visa-on-arrival for Nigerian citizens in October 2022, requiring Nigerians to obtain visas from the Ethiopian embassy in Abuja before travelling.

The change came barely two weeks after Ethiopian Airlines emerged as a core investor in the Nigerian national carrier project.

Ethiopia, which had been one of the most accessible destinations on the African continent for Nigerian travellers, is now effectively inaccessible by any route.

Meanwhile, the Zambian government mandates that all West African passport holders must obtain visas.

Zimbabwe, which previously offered Nigerians a visa-on-arrival, now requires a prior visa application.

Lesotho, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe and Somalia have each similarly moved to a prior-visa requirement for Nigerians.

The changes were highlighted in crossed-out entries against each of the countries concerned in the 2026 destination list for Nigeria.

None of the countries involved cited formal bilateral disputes with Nigeria, and the changes were administrative.

Visa-free Pacific island nations of Fiji, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia and Montserrat currently operate open-door or minimal-visa-requirement policies that apply broadly to developing nations.

Among West African countries, Nigeria sits near the bottom of the 2026 ranking, as Ghana ranked 67th globally with a visa-free score of 67, 23 destinations more than Nigeria.

The Gambia, a country of less than 2.5 million people, ranked 66th with 68 visa-free destinations.

Senegal ranked 77th with 56 destinations, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire at 77th and 78th respectively with 56 and 55 destinations, and Guinea-Bissau at 83rd with 50 destinations.

Across the continent, South Africa maintained its lead as the strongest passport. Ranked 46th globally, its holders can travel to 100 destinations visa-free.

Botswana followed at rank 56 with 81 destinations, ahead of Namibia with 74 destinations, Morocco with 71 destinations, Kenya with 69 and Ghana with 67 destinations.

Globally, Singapore holds the world’s most powerful passport with a visa-free score of 192, edging ahead of Japan and South Korea, which share the second position at 187 alongside the United Arab Emirates.

Sweden, with 186 destinations, is ranked third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland jointly occupy fourth position with 185 visa free destinations.

The index put Austria, Greece, Malta and Portugal at fifth position with 184 destinations.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kenneth Udo, on the X handle of the NIS.

The increment aims to ensure the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, Udo said.

“As part of its efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, the Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the passport, effective from September 1, 2024.

“Based on the review, a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity previously charged at N35,000 will now be N50,000 only; while a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity which was N70,000 will be N100,000,” the statement read.

The NIS said though it regretted “any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants,” it assured Nigerians of “unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”

Nigerian passport is just above countries like North Korea (192), Iraq (193), Libya (194), Sudan (195), Pakistan (196), Afghanistan (197), Syria (198) and Somalia (199).

By implication, the Nigerian passport is ranked among the worst on the globe highlighting significant challenges for Nigerian travelers seeking international mobility.

The ranking will raise concerns about the West African country’s recent efforts to improve mobility, including e-visa initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Singaporean passport came first on the chart as the strongest in the world, followed by the Italian, Spaniard, French, and German passports.

The report added that the factors that contributed to this decline include visa-free access, diplomatic relations, and security concerns.

Other factors are visa-free travel, electronic travel authorisation, visa on arrival, electronic visa (e-visa), embassy or other government-approved visas, passport-free travel, and banned entry.

Additionally, the Henley Passport Index, which considers the number of countries passport holders can enter without a visa, previously listed the Nigerian passport among the worst 10 performing travel documents worldwide.

This consistently low ranking highlights the pressing need for Nigeria to address the underlying issues affecting its passport’s global standing.

See the list of top 20 passports in the world

1. Singapore
2. Italy
3. Spain
4. France
5. Germany
6. Hungary
7. Austria
8. Ireland
9. Netherlands
10. Belgium
11. Switzerland
12. Luxembourg
13. Finland
14. Japan
15. Sweden
16. Denmark
17. Norway
18. Czech
19. Portugal
20. Poland

This is according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the 2024 Henley Passport Index.

Unfortunately, wearing that badge as one of the least powerful passports in the globe has its negative impact on the citizenry as it influences their ability to explore international opportunities and engage with the global community.

Nigeria doesn’t stand alone with the title of one of the least potent passports globally, and it is joined by 17 other nations facing similar limitations.

Here are the 17 world’s least powerful passports in 2024

Afghanistan

At the top of the list for the world’s least powerful passports in 2024 is Afghanistan, granting its citizens visa-free access to only 28 countries.

Ongoing geopolitical and security challenges have significantly restricted Afghan citizens’ ability to travel internationally.

Syria

Following closely with visa-free access to 29 countries, Syria faces the consequences of prolonged conflict, imposing severe limitations on the global mobility of its citizens.

Iraq

Iraq, with visa-free access to 31 countries, struggles with political instability and security concerns that hamper the international travel aspirations of its citizens.

Pakistan

Pakistan, offering visa-free access to 34 countries, contends with geopolitical tensions and security issues constraining its citizens’ global mobility.

Yemen

Yemen, providing visa-free access to 35 countries, faces the repercussions of conflict and instability, further limiting its citizens’ international travel options.

Somalia

With visa-free access to 36 countries, Somalia confronts political unrest and security challenges that contribute to the constraints on the international mobility of its citizens.

Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territories

Sharing the seventh position, Libya, Nepal, and the Palestinian Territories offer visa-free access to 40 countries, navigating unique challenges stemming from political instability, conflict, and geopolitical complexities.

Bangladesh, North Korea

Occupying the eighth spot, Bangladesh and North Korea provide visa-free access to 42 countries. While the reasons differ, both nations grapple with diplomatic challenges that limit the international travel options for their citizens.

Eritrea, Sri Lanka

Offering visa-free access to 43 countries, Eritrea and Sri Lanka face distinct challenges. Eritrea’s diplomatic isolation and Sri Lanka’s historical issues contribute to the constraints on the global mobility of its citizens.

Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan

Closing the list with visa-free access to 45 countries, Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Sudan share the tenth position. Each nation contends with unique geopolitical challenges, influencing the international travel opportunities for their citizens and underscoring the intricate nature of global diplomatic relations.