Nigerian passport moves to 89th position in global ranking

The Nigerian passport has climbed up to 89th position out of 199 in the 2026 Henley Passport Index.

The index, which is updated annually, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), and expert analyses on the latest shifts in passport power.

In July 2025, the passport placed 88th — its highest ranking in five years. It later slipped to the 94th position as the year drew to a close.

Henley & Partners, the travel firm, receives exclusive data from the IATA, which forms the basis of the index.

Nigeria shared the 89th position with Myanmar, with a visa-free score of 44.

According to the index, its visa free score is the total number of destinations for which passport holders do not require a visa, but also applies if travellers can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination.

In Africa, the Nigerian passport was only ranked above the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, and Eritrea, retaining its spot as the seventh least desirable passport on the continent.

Seychelles retained its spot as Africa’s most favoured passport, followed by Mauritius and South Africa.

Singapore’s passport remained the most powerful, with access to 192 nations, while Afghanistan still ranked last, with access to 24 countries.

Some Nigerians have lamented the constant harassment they face anytime they are travelling using Nigerian passports. Some of them complained of being profiled because of their green passport.