Nigerian passport holders now have access to 45 countries around the world without the need to secure a visa before travelling, based on the most recent global travel ranking update.
This development marks a positive step for Nigerians, as it reduces travel barriers and expands opportunities for tourism, business, education, and family visits across multiple regions.
Out of the 45 destinations, 27 countries allow Nigerians to enter without a visa, while others offer simplified entry through visa-on-arrival or Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) systems. Although entry rules differ from one country to another, the update reflects improved global travel access for Nigerian citizens.
A large number of these destinations are African countries that have embraced open-border policies to encourage regional cooperation, boost trade, and strengthen tourism across the continent.
The Gambia has maintained a visa-free policy for African travellers since 2019. This approach was later extended to include Commonwealth countries, European Union member states, and selected Baltic nations.
Benin followed a similar path in 2019 by removing visa requirements for all African nationals. The policy was inspired by Rwanda’s model and has helped Benin grow its role as a key commercial and transit centre in West Africa.
Kenya expanded its open-border policy in October 2023 when President William Ruto announced the removal of visa requirements for visitors from across Africa. The move was aimed at improving trade relations, tourism growth, and continental connectivity.
Rwanda has also strengthened its travel openness. Since November 2023, the country has granted visa-free entry to all African travellers without charging any fees, further supporting its status as a major destination for tourism and international conferences.
Ghana recently joined the list of African countries offering visa-free access to fellow Africans. The decision is expected to attract more investors, tourists, and business travellers, while reinforcing Ghana’s ambition to serve as a regional economic hub.
Beyond Africa, Nigerian passport holders can also enter several other countries with either visa-free access, visa-on-arrival, or eTA approval. These destinations include Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cook Islands, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Fiji, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Liberia, Mali, Micronesia, Montserrat, Niger, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Vanuatu.
Overall, the expanded list highlights growing international mobility for Nigerians and reflects ongoing efforts by many countries to promote travel, trade, and cultural exchange
