According to the latest Henley Passport Index for 2024, Nigeria’s passport has improved its global ranking to 92nd position, up from 97th in 2023. This marks a significant rise from its all-time low of 103rd position in 2021.
The Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Nigeria’s passport currently provides visa-free access to 45 destinations, including countries like Ghana, Mauritius, and Barbados.
However, Nigerian passport holders still require a visa to enter 184 destinations globally, including major economies like China, Russia, the United States, and the entire European Union. This high visa requirement contributes to Nigeria’s relatively low ranking on the index.
Despite the improvement, Nigeria still lags behind other African countries in passport power. The report highlights that Africa accounts for seven of the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates, with Nigeria ranking third globally at 45.1%.
The research suggests that the poorer the African country of origin, the higher the rejection rate for its nationals, indicating a potential bias in the European visa system. Factors such as per capita income, illegal overstays, and low return and readmission rates only partially explain these higher rejection rates.
Overall, the Henley Passport Index 2024 shows that while Nigeria has made progress in improving its passport ranking, it still faces significant challenges in terms of visa requirements and rejection rates, particularly for travel to Europe. Addressing these issues could help enhance Nigeria’s global mobility and economic opportunities for its citizens.
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