According to the latest April 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, the Nigerian passport improved from 95th position in January 2024 to 89th globally.
The gain, however, masks a decline in actual travel freedom, with the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations dropping to 44, down from 46 in January 2025 and 45 in January 2024.
The data highlights a paradox: Nigeria’s improved ranking does not necessarily reflect stronger passport access but rather shifts in the performance of other countries.
Several nations previously ranked below Nigeria recorded steeper declines, inadvertently pushing Nigeria higher on the global table without a corresponding expansion in its travel reach.
The index, compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association, assesses 199 passports worldwide.
Over the long term, Nigeria’s position has weakened significantly, falling 27 places from 62nd in 2006 to its current 89th ranking.
A closer review of destination access shows a dynamic but uneven pattern.
Between 2025 and 2026, Nigerian passport holders gained entry to new destinations such as Fiji, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, Samoa, Palau Islands, Niue and Montserrat, largely countries with open or flexible entry policies, particularly among Pacific Island nations.
Despite these additions, Nigeria lost access to several countries that have tightened entry requirements.
Notably, Ethiopia discontinued its visa-on-arrival policy for Nigerians in October 2022, mandating travellers to obtain visas from its embassy in Abuja before departure.
Zambia has also introduced stricter visa rules for West African passport holders, while Zimbabwe now requires Nigerians to secure visas prior to travel, ending its earlier visa-on-arrival arrangement.
Other African countries, including Lesotho, Somalia, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe, have similarly shifted Nigeria into the “visa required” category in recent years.
These changes, though largely administrative and not tied to formal diplomatic disputes, have collectively reduced the ease of movement for Nigerian travellers.
Regionally, Nigeria continues to lag behind several African peers. Ghana ranks 67th globally with access to 67 destinations, while The Gambia, despite its smaller population, stands at 66th with 68 visa-free destinations.
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau also outperform Nigeria in travel access, underscoring the country’s relatively weak mobility profile within West Africa.
Across the continent, South Africa retains its position as the strongest passport, ranked 46th globally with access to 100 destinations.
Botswana, Morocco, Kenya, Namibia and Ghana also maintain stronger standings.
On the global stage, Singapore leads as the world’s most powerful passport with access to 192 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea.
At the opposite end, Afghanistan remains the weakest, with access to just 23 destinations without a prior visa.
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