Nigeria’s Passport Climbs to 89th in Global Ranking, Still Among Africa’s Weakest

Nigeria’s Passport Climbs to 89th in Global Ranking, Still Among Africa’s Weakest

Nigeria’s passport has recorded a modest improvement on the global mobility scale, ranking 89th out of 199 countries in the 2026 Henley Passport Index released in January.

Despite the slight rise, the Nigerian passport remains one of the least powerful worldwide, granting holders access to just 44 destinations without a visa or with visa-on-arrival, electronic travel authorisation, or visitor’s permits.

Nigeria shared the 89th position with Myanmar, reflecting a turbulent year for the country’s travel document. After reaching its strongest ranking in five years at 88th place in July, the passport later dropped to 94th before settling at its current position.
Within Africa, Nigeria continues to trail behind most countries, ranking as the seventh least powerful passport on the continent. It placed ahead of only the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, and Eritrea.
In contrast, Seychelles retained its status as Africa’s strongest passport, followed by Mauritius and South Africa, underscoring the wide mobility gap among African nations.

On the global stage, Singapore maintained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free or simplified access to 192 destinations, while Afghanistan remained at the bottom, with access to just 24 countries.

The latest ranking highlights ongoing disparities in global travel freedom and underscores the challenges facing Nigeria’s international mobility despite recent improvements.