The Nigerian passport has been ranked 89th out of 199 globally in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, according to the latest report released in January.

The annual index, based on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and expert analyses, measures passport strength by the number of destinations holders can access without a visa or with a visa on arrival, visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authority (ETA).

Nigeria shared the 89th position with Myanmar, both with a visa-free score of 44 destinations. This follows a fluctuating year for the Nigerian passport, which reached its highest ranking in five years at 88th place last July, before slipping to 94th by the end of the year.

Within Africa, Nigeria remains the seventh least powerful passport, ranking above only Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, and Eritrea. Seychelles retained its position as Africa’s most favoured passport, followed by Mauritius and South Africa.

Globally, Singapore continues to hold the title of the most powerful passport, providing access to 192 countries, while Afghanistan remains at the bottom with entry to just 24 nations.

The Henley Passport Index, compiled by Henley & Partners, remains a key benchmark for assessing the global mobility of citizens and reflects ongoing shifts in international travel access. (Arise News)

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