The Nigerian passport has recorded its strongest performance in half a decade, climbing to the 88th position out of 199 countries in the latest Henley Passport Index released on July 18.

The Henley Passport Index, a global ranking of the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ongoing expert analysis.

Nigeria now shares the 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar, the same countries it was previously grouped with in an earlier edition this year when it ranked 91st. Although the latest position reflects a modest improvement, the Nigerian passport still grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 45 countries—essentially the same travel freedom as in 2024, when it ranked 92nd.

Over the past few years, Nigeria’s passport ranking has fluctuated. It was ranked 90th in July 2023 but later fell to 97th, behind several African nations including Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia. In 2022, it stood at 98th, rising from its lowest point of 103rd in 2021.

Despite the recent gains, Nigeria’s passport still sits near the bottom of African rankings, surpassing only six countries on the continent: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia—similar to last year’s standings.

On the other end of the spectrum, Seychelles retained its status as Africa’s most powerful passport, though it slipped slightly from 22nd to 24th globally. Citizens of the island nation enjoy visa-free access to 156 countries.

Globally, Singapore continues to hold the number one spot, with access to 193 destinations. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the world’s weakest passport, with its holders able to visit only 25 countries without a visa.

The United States, once ranked first in 2014, has now dropped to the 10th position, reflecting a broader shift in global mobility dynamics. (AriseNews TV)