Nigeria’s passport has ranked 181st out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, with Nigerian travellers enjoying visa-free access to 24 destinations, according to figures published by the travel platform.
The assessment also shows that Nigerian passport holders can obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries, while electronic visas are available for another 43 destinations.
The reported ranking differs significantly from Nigeria’s 90th position in the July 2026 Henley Passport Index, which listed 44 destinations as accessible to Nigerian citizens without obtaining a visa before travel.
However, the two positions should not be interpreted as evidence that Nigeria’s passport has fallen 91 places within three months, as the indices use different methodologies, destination coverage and assessment criteria.
IziVisa said its ranking evaluates passports based on the travel access they provide, including visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
The United Arab Emirates tops the latest IziVisa ranking, with access to 185 of 198 documented destinations through the entry categories considered by the platform.
Switzerland occupies second place, with visa-free entry to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visas available for another 37 destinations.
Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland are also among the countries featuring prominently in the assessment.
READ ALSO:Makinde’s security aide, Kabiru Salami, resigns
In a separate assessment published in July 2026, the Henley Passport Index ranked Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports, with access to 44 destinations without a prior visa.
The position represented a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th ranking in April 2026, although the country’s visa-free score remained unchanged.
Henley & Partners said its index assessed 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The July assessment grouped Nigeria with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan, whose passports also offered visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The Henley assessment also highlighted differences in travel access among African countries.
South Africa ranked 49th globally, with visa-free access to 101 destinations, while Botswana placed 61st with access to 81 destinations.
Morocco ranked 67th, offering access to 71 destinations, while Kenya occupied 68th position with access to 70 destinations.
Ghana ranked 70th, with a visa-free score of 67 destinations.
These figures illustrate the varying levels of international mobility available to passport holders across the continent under the Henley methodology.
The difference between Nigeria’s reported positions in the IziVisa and Henley indices underscores the importance of examining the methodology used by each ranking platform.
While IziVisa reports separate figures for visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas, Henley’s ranking focuses on the number of destinations passport holders can access without obtaining a visa before departure.
The distinction matters because visa-on-arrival and electronic visa arrangements do not necessarily offer the same level of convenience as visa-free entry.
For Nigerian travellers, the practical implications depend on the entry requirements of individual destinations, which may change according to bilateral agreements, immigration policies and other conditions.
The two assessments therefore provide different snapshots of the travel privileges available to Nigerian passport holders rather than a directly comparable measure of changes in the country’s global ranking.
