By Joan Obinagwam
In today’s world, your passport’s power, measured by visa-free travel access, reflects your country’s global standing. According to the Henley Passport Index, passports from African countries generally rank lower globally, with Seychelles leading the continent at 24th place worldwide, offering visa-free access to 155 destinations. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest economy, lags behind at 95th globally, with access to only 45 visa-free destinations. This disparity highlights systemic challenges like economic instability, security concerns, and limited diplomatic leverage. However, through targeted reforms, African nations, particularly Nigeria, can elevate their passport rankings. Drawing from expert insights and regional examples, this article explores actionable strategies to build passport power.
Understanding passport strength
Passport rankings, such as those from Henley & Partners or the Passport Index, evaluate mobility based on visa-free access, visa-on-arrival options, and electronic visas. A strong passport facilitates easier travel for business, education, and tourism, boosting economic growth and diaspora remittances. For Africa, where intra-continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could add $450 billion to the economy by 2035, enhanced mobility is crucial. Yet, many African passports restrict even regional travel, perpetuating a “mobility divide.”
Travel expert Oga Sage (@Oga_Sage), a specialist in visas and bespoke tours, emphasizes the role of technological upgrades in building credibility: “The new Nigerian enhanced e-passport works very well. Nigeria’s new passport follows ICAO international standards, making it more secure, harder to tamper with, and widely accepted globally.” Such innovations signal reliability to other nations, encouraging reciprocal agreements.
How to enhance passport power
Countries improve their rankings through deliberate diplomatic and domestic efforts. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, climbed from 62nd to 9th in 18 years via visa waiver pacts. African nations can adopt similar approaches:
Strengthen diplomatic relations
Visa-free access often stems from bilateral ties. Wealthy, stable nations with low emigration risks secure more waivers. For Africa, prioritizing intra-continental pacts under the African Union’s Protocol on Free Movement could transform mobility. Currently, only 27% of African borders allow visa-free travel for Africans.
Immigration expert Khaleje (@hkarege), affiliated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), advocates for practical steps: “We should begin by advocating for practical and high-impact measures, such as the removal or simplification of visa requirements [between] African countries. Evidence consistently shows that facilitating mobility increases trade, tourism, investment, and regional integration.” Initiatives like the Alliance of Sahel States’ joint biometric passport by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exemplify this, aiming to harmonize travel and boost economies.
In Nigeria, aligning with ECOWAS protocols could expand access, but experts note abuse of regional passports has led to restrictions, as seen in denials for Nigerians traveling to Ivory Coast. Rebuilding trust through stricter enforcement and diplomacy is essential.
Foster economic growth, political stability
Economic indicators like GDP per capita correlate with passport strength, as prosperous citizens are viewed as low-risk migrants. Seychelles and Mauritius top Africa’s rankings due to tourism-driven economies and reciprocity—Seychelles waived visas for all Africans first, earning favors in return.
Investor and commentator Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) links Nigeria’s passport woes to emigration pressures: “A strong passport is when more foreigners are more willing to come to your country than your people are willing to leave… Improve the economy, provide world class infrastructure and young people (the ‘japa’ age group) won’t leave.” Nigeria’s “japa” exodus underscores the need for job creation and infrastructure to reverse brain drain.
Political stability enhances credibility. South Africa’s passport ranks third in Africa, benefiting from strong governance and diplomatic outreach. Journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo (@cobbo3) suggests innovative reforms: “Let Banks Renew IDs and East African Passports… In East Africa… a Kenyan in Uganda would renew her passport at an Equity branch in Kampala without having to travel to Nairobi.” Such efficiency could apply to West Africa, reducing backlogs and signaling modernity.
Invest in technology, security reforms
Modern passports with biometric features build trust. Nigeria’s recent ICAO compliance has improved rankings, enabling automated checks at airports. Centralized production centers now produce 5,000 passports daily, ending chronic delays.
For broader Africa, a unified African passport, as proposed by activist Mika Chavala (@MikaChavala), could eliminate internal barriers: “Mika has proposed a One African Passport to facilitate trade & movement across Africa. He also called for a unified currency, central bank, and collective military, stating, ‘Unity is strength & division is weakness.'” The African Union’s Agenda 2063 envisions this, promoting rule of law and public health to support free movement.
Leverage diaspora
Diasporas can advocate for better policies abroad. Investment programs, like Grenada’s citizenship-by-investment, allow Africans to acquire stronger passports, accessing 161 destinations. Botswana’s proposed “golden passport” scheme, offering citizenship for $100,000 investments, aims to offset economic slumps.
In Nigeria, harmonizing NIN with passports streamlines processes, but experts warn of security flaws without robust checks.
Hurdles, path forward
Security threats, like terrorism in the Sahel, hinder progress. Nigeria must address perceptions of fraud and overstays. Media outlet TRT Afrika (@trtafrika) notes: “Passport strength is determined by a number of factors including income, political fragility and bilateral relations among countries.”
Yet, optimism persists. AfCFTA could lead to more visa-free arrangements, strengthening African passports collectively. For Nigeria, ongoing reforms—like home delivery and online applications—signal intent. As scholar Ugur Altundal observes, higher GDP and favorable views reduce migration risks, paving the way for liberalization.
OpporTechies reports that achieving a strong passport requires holistic efforts: diplomacy, economy, and innovation. By uniting under shared goals, Africa and Nigeria can unlock global doors, fostering prosperity for generations.
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