Nigeria’s passport has been ranked 91st on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, sharing the position with Ethiopia and Myanmar. Both of these countries are facing attacks from armed groups.

Henley Passport Index Overview

The Henley Passport Index is updated monthly, using data from the International Air Transport Authority. The index measures global passport strength based on visa-free access to other countries.

Nigeria’s Position in Africa

In Africa, Nigeria’s passport ranks higher than only a few countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia. This places Nigeria’s passport as the seventh least powerful in Africa, a decline from the previous year, where it ranked sixth.

Government’s Effort to Improve Nigeria’s Image

The ranking comes as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, claimed that the government had improved the country’s image abroad. Tuggar made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He added that the next step was to “exalt and glorify Nigeria’s image.” Tuggar also mentioned that the ministry had assisted in securing the release of Nigerians wrongly imprisoned in other countries. However, he did not elaborate on how the government plans to achieve this goal, but assured that Nigeria is working with other nations while adhering to ethical guidelines in its foreign policy.

Recent Changes in Nigeria’s Passport Ranking

In July 2023, Nigeria’s passport ranked 90th globally. However, it later dropped to 97th, falling behind African nations such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia. This shift reflected a significant change in Nigeria’s visa policy. However, Nigeria’s passport improved in 2024, climbing back to 92nd place globally.

Seychelles and Singapore Top the Index

In contrast, Seychelles maintained its position as the strongest African passport, ranking 22nd in the world. The passport moved up two spots from the previous year, now granting access to 156 countries. Singapore continued to hold the top spot globally, with its passport providing access to 193 countries. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan’s passport remains the least powerful, offering access to only 25 countries.