IN a recent international rating, the Henley and Partners Passport Ranking of 2019, Nigeria was placed at the 91st position, trailing behind Ghana at the 77th position, Rwanda at the 84th and Chad at the 85th position. Previously, Nigeria had dropped from the 62nd position in 2006. It was 64th in 2007 and 67th in 2008, declining steadily in comparison with other countries. Sadly, it was downgraded to the 94th position in 2018.
The Nigerian passport rose three notches in the 2019 ranking but it is still behind other nations like Ghana, Chad and Senegal which were erroneously thought to be relatively poorer. The Henley Passport Index is, according to reports, the most rigorous and sophisticated measure of global access because beyond the simple ranking of passports, it also shows an in-depth assessment of travel freedom, including which countries one has access to and what type of visa is obtained. The current ranking gives the topmost position to Japan, whose citizens can visit 190 countries around the world visa-free. The Singaporean and Korean passports share the second position as their citizens can visit 189 countries visa-free. The UK passport is currently sixth in the global ranking.
Even a cursory observation would show that the ranking indicates the quality of the citizens of the respective countries without necessarily saying so. The quality of a passport is also indubitably indicative of the worth of the citizens globally. The ranking of Nigeria aptly suggests its position on the development index. The easy accessibility of the Nigerian passport, sometimes to even foreigners as a travel document, must be part of the reasons for its low international esteem. It is arguably much easier to acquire than others due to corruption.
The Henley Passport Index prides itself on being the only one based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) data enhanced by extensive in-house research and supported by expert commentary and updated regularly throughout the year, but it is also a good yardstick in judging the amount of respect the passport of countries in the world have earned for their citizens. It is therefore not in the least surprising that Nigerians are very rarely accorded respect internationally. Travellers on international routes always recount unsavoury experiences at the borders of the countries visited for various reasons ranging from mere suspicion to xenophobic attitudes. We recall the unsavoury experience of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, at the hands of South African immigration officials a few years ago which made him vow never to return to that country. In the case of travellers to Nigeria, they are often confronted with poor services by Immigration personnel, corruption and extortion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Truth be told, it is not the value of the Nigerian passport that has depreciated; it is essentially the worth of being a Nigerian. The document symbolises Nigerian citizenship and the implication of the ranking is dire. This sad reality should be confronted with the utmost sincerity and urgency that it deserves. Everything invariably boils down to the quality and orientation of the leadership and ruling elite in the country, for which the duty of charting the path to development has always been a historical responsibility.
For quite a long time, this class has remained largely negligent and selfish, even ruinous. It has allowed a steady and consistent deterioration of human values to the point that the country trails behind smaller countries on the continent in spite of being the “giant of Africa.” For Nigeria to return to its pride of place, therefore, it is imperative for it to mop up its mess and get its acts together because right now, being a Nigerian attracts international stigmatisation. The country’s leadership should find this absolutely repugnant. Nigeria should get to that point where its passport would attract respect and admiration internationally. This is both desirable and attainable.
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