The Senate has taken steps to strengthen passport regulations by suggesting a 10-year travel document prohibition for Nigerians who have been convicted and deported from other nations.
This proposal, which successfully passed its second reading yesterday, is part of a bill aimed at amending the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap P343, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Sponsored by Senator Bello Sani Abubakar (APC, Niger North), this initiative aims to discourage criminal activities abroad and to restore trust in Nigeria’s passport.
In addition, the Red Chamber has confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has responded to 19 audit inquiries, amounting to an astonishing N210 trillion, which were raised regarding its accounts from 2017 to 2023.
However, President Bola Tinubu has refused to endorse two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing clauses that he believes are in conflict with existing laws, jeopardize fiscal discipline, and could set unsustainable precedents in public governance.
Nevertheless, he has reached out to the House of Representatives to seek approval for raising $2.35 billion from the international capital market. This amount includes $1.23 billion in new loans to assist in covering the 2025 budget deficit, $1.12 billion for refinancing maturing Eurobonds, and the possibility of issuing Nigeria’s inaugural Sovereign Sukuk.
Unless there are last-minute alterations, the House of Representatives is anticipated to take a position on proposals related to the devolution of powers, local government autonomy, judicial reform, socio-economic rights, and more than 80 other issues in the ongoing process of constitutional amendment.
While presenting the debate on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Mohammed Onawo stated that the amendment to implement the ban was intended to restore Nigeria’s tarnished reputation in the global arena.
“If a Nigerian is convicted abroad, their passport should be revoked for 10 years. This serves as a deterrent and signals that Nigeria will not tolerate criminal behavior that tarnishes its image,” Onawo remarked.
He expressed concern that crimes perpetrated by certain Nigerians abroad have resulted in more stringent visa policies and prejudice against law-abiding citizens. “The green passport is increasingly undervalued. Its national pride has been significantly eroded. This constitutes a national crisis,” he cautioned.
Legislators supported the proposed bill. Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West) highlighted the importance of preventing non-Nigerians from fraudulently acquiring Nigerian passports, which has further tarnished the nation’s image.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio characterized the initiative as “a decisive corrective measure,” recalling an incident in Dubai where criminals possessed Nigerian passports but were ultimately determined not to be Nigerians.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on Interior for additional examination and a public hearing. If passed, it will position Nigeria among the few African countries with legislation penalizing citizens domestically for offenses committed internationally.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), informed reporters in Abuja yesterday that while the oil corporation had submitted its responses, the documents were still under evaluation.
“The management of NNPCL requested an extension during our recess to allow them to gather data and respond thoroughly to the inquiries we posed – and we approved that request. They have since replied, and we now possess answers to all 19 questions,” Wadada stated.
Similarly, Sections 21 and 23, which allowed for the investment of government-allocated funds, were labeled as “fiscally perilous” since the institute does not generate revenue.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, in a welcoming address at yesterday’s plenary, assured that the House would send the ratified amendments to the Houses of Assembly before the end of December to facilitate early agreement ahead of the election period.
Abbas noted that the recent national public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Constitution Amendment was well-attended and very successful, demonstrating significant public interest and backing.
