(DDM) – A controversial bill proposing a 10-year ban on the issuance of international passports to Nigerians convicted of crimes abroad and deported back to the country has passed its second reading at the Senate.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the proposed law, sponsored by Senator Bello Abubakar representing Niger North, and presented by Senator Ogoshi Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa), seeks to amend the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act to protect Nigeria’s global reputation and deter criminal activity by citizens overseas.
During plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill’s progress following a voice vote that showed overwhelming support from lawmakers.
The bill has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Interior, which has four weeks to conduct a public hearing and report back to the chamber.
According to Senator Onawo, the measure is intended to serve as a deterrent to Nigerians who “use the country’s passport to commit crimes abroad, thereby embarrassing the nation and damaging its international image.”
He said, “The implication of this amendment is that any Nigerian convicted of a crime in a foreign country would have their international passport withdrawn for 10 years.
This will discourage the commission of crimes abroad and help redeem our image.”
The lawmaker lamented that criminal acts by some Nigerians have led to global visa restrictions, noting that countries such as China, Turkey, the UAE, Canada, Germany, and France have imposed tougher entry rules on Nigerian passport holders.
Onawo further stated that the proposal would “redeem, preserve, and elevate Nigeria’s image internationally,” adding that the nation’s passport has been tainted by association with criminal offences.
High-profile Nigerian Convictions Abroad
Over the years, several prominent Nigerians have been convicted overseas for offences ranging from fraud and money laundering to human trafficking.
Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years in the United Kingdom in 2023 for organ trafficking.
Similarly, former Delta State Governor James Ibori was jailed for 13 years in 2012 for stealing millions from public funds, while internet fraudster Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) was jailed in the United States in 2022 for multiple counts of fraud and identity theft.
The Senate noted that such incidents have caused “stupendous disgrace” to Nigeria’s diplomatic image, leading to harassment and discrimination against law-abiding citizens at international airports and embassies.
Lawmakers Demand Tighter Passport Controls
Supporting the motion, Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West) urged the Federal Government to tighten passport issuance systems, alleging that foreigners easily acquire Nigerian passports, leading to crimes being wrongly attributed to Nigerians.
He said, “In some cases, non-Nigerians commit crimes but are profiled as Nigerians simply because they carry our passports. We must reclaim the dignity of the green passport.”
Akpabio Endorses The Bill
Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported the bill, citing examples of Nigerians being wrongfully accused abroad because of passport misuse.
He recalled an incident in Dubai, where black men committed a robbery using Nigerian passports, but investigations later showed they were not Nigerians.
“This bill will help ensure that anyone who messes up Nigeria’s image abroad faces serious consequences,” Akpabio said. “Such individuals should not just go to prison and return home freely, they should lose their passports for at least ten years.”
Akpabio emphasized that the legislation, when passed, would “preserve the dignity of the green passport and strengthen Nigeria’s moral standing internationally.”
Broader Implications
If enacted, Nigeria would become one of the few African countries with a domestic law punishing citizens convicted abroad.
The legislation is also expected to prompt collaboration between Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Interpol, to track and enforce sanctions on deported convicts.
Analysts told DDM that while the proposed measure could protect Nigeria’s image, it also raises legal and human rights concerns, particularly regarding due process and rehabilitation of returnees.
As debates continue, the Senate Committee on Interior is expected to hold consultations with immigration experts, legal practitioners, and civil society groups before final recommendations are submitted for third reading.
If passed and signed into law, the bill would mark a significant shift in how Nigeria handles citizens’ conduct abroad, balancing national image protection with constitutional rights and international legal obligations.
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