The Nigerian passport has climbed to 88th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, marking its highest ranking in five years, as announced in the latest report on July 18, 2025. According to Henley & Partners, the index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), shows Nigeria sharing the 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 45 destinations. This rise from a low of 97th in 2023 and 91st earlier in 2025 reportedly reflects Nigeria’s improved diplomatic efforts.
The improvement follows Nigeria’s strategic bilateral agreements and visa policy reforms, though the passport still ranks below most African nations, outperforming only six: Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, speaking at a July 17 briefing in Abuja, attributed the gain to efforts to enhance Nigeria’s global image, including securing the release of Nigerians detained abroad. “We are working to exalt Nigeria’s standing through ethical foreign policy,” he said. However, the passport’s 45 visa-free destinations remain unchanged from 2024, when it ranked 92nd, indicating that the ranking boost stems from relative declines in other nations’ scores rather than significant new visa waivers.
The milestone has sparked optimism, with stakeholders hopeful for continued progress in travel infrastructure and international agreements. The Henley Index, which ranks 199 passports against 227 destinations, highlights Singapore as the world’s most powerful passport with access to 193 countries, while Afghanistan ranks last with 25. Nigeria’s ascent signals growing mobility for its citizens, but challenges like limited visa-free access and regional security concerns persist, requiring sustained diplomatic efforts to further elevate the passport’s global standing.
