Business a.m.
The Nigerian passport has been ranked as the 10th worst travel document in the world, according to VisaGuide’s World Passport Index. The ranking, which utilises the Destination Significance Score (DSS), placed Nigeria at number 191 out of 199 countries, reflecting the limited travel access afforded to holders of the Nigerian passport.
Despite being home to a vast and diverse population, the Nigerian passport continues to occupy one of the lowest ranks in global mobility, trailing only eight other countries in its accessibility and freedom of movement. According to the April rankings by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index, the Nigerian passport is ahead of North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia.
While analysing the various factors that influenced the recent decline of the Nigerian passport, the index revealed a number of key areas where Nigeria needs to improve. These include:
– Visa-free travel: The report noted a lack of visa-free travel options for Nigerians, constraining their international mobility.
– Electronic travel authorisation: Nigeria’s lack of e-visa systems and electronic travel authorizations also contributes to its low ranking.
-Visa on arrival: The report highlighted the limited number of countries that offer visa on arrival for Nigerians, further limiting travel options.
The recent ranking of passports by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index has revealed a stark contrast in international mobility between countries like Nigeria and those with top-performing passports such as Singapore.
While the Nigerian passport ranked as the 10th worst in the world, despite recent efforts to improve its e-visa initiatives, the Singaporean passport claimed the top spot as the strongest passport, with visa-free access to almost every country in the world, scoring an impressive 91.06 score on the VisaGuide’s World Passport Index. Other countries with strong passports include Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, offering their citizens a wealth of travel opportunities.
