Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja



Nigeria has risen to 91 on the Henley and Partners Passport Ranking of 2019.

Nigeria was 94 in 2018 but has risen by three spots as its passport can take its holder into 47 countries without a visa.

Findings by The PUNCH showed that Nigeria came 62nd in 2006, 64th in 2007, 67th in 2008 and has continued to decline in comparison with other nation.

In the latest ranking, Nigeria now trails behind Ghana (77), Rwanda (84), Guinea (82), Mali (83), Togo (83), Senegal (82), Chad (85), Benin Republic (80), Cameroon (90) and Central African Republic (89).

Somalia came last in Africa with the 103rd spot and its passport can get you into 32 countries without a visa.

At number 53, South Arica is the strongest on the African continent as its passport can get you into 101 countries easily.

In the world ranking, Afghanistan and Iran took the last spot at 104 as their passports can only get you into 30 countries without a visa.

Japan has the world’s most powerful passport as its citizens can visit 190 countries around the world visa-free. The Singaporean and South Korean passports are in joint second place on 189 countries.

However, both the UK and USA passports have dropped down the ranking from fifth in 2018 and are both in sixth place now on 185 countries. Switzerland is also sixth

The Henley Passport Index is the most rigorous and sophisticated measure of global access. It goes beyond a simple ranking of passports to provide you with an in-depth picture of your travel freedom, including which countries you can access with which type of visa, how your passport has changed over the last 14 years, how your passport compares to other passports, why your passport has the level of access it does, and which additional passports would improve your mobility.

The Henley Passport Index is the only passport index that is based on International Air Transport Association data, enhanced by extensive in-house research, supported by expert commentary, and updated regularly throughout the year, making it the most robust, credible, and reliable index of its kind.

Arelyn:
We need to understand some things before jumping to conclusions as Nigerians. We are always in a haste to propel our own image downwards.

The Henley passport index is not a measure of the strength or economic prowess of country rather it is the ranking of passports based on how many countries such passport can access without Visa.

The visa free agreement between countries are direct implication of factors such as Geographic region, Trade agreements, population, susceptibility to communal diseases, wealth, colonial heritage, Freedom, Education, Terrorism and the likes

So the fact that chad or Ghana is ahead does not mean our passport is useless. Countries like Japan and Singapore are ahead of the likes of USA, UK etc and I don't think that makes them better.

naunasabi:


Keep telling yourself that.

All these sai baba people una see in una life?

Me dey here jeje with one of the western eu country passport I dey still pray make una vote out bubu so una lives go better. But those of una with useless green passport wan die put ontop Buhari.

I wish una luck while I sip my zobo with my kingdom of .... Passport- gateway to many countries. Infact I don't even need the passport to travel to most places all I need is my resident card as eu member.

Arelyn:


I don't think there is anything wrong in what have said and I don't think you need to let us know where you are or who you are, cause they are both inconsequential.

EU might be the dream to you but it was a stepping stone for some people. I am grateful to the green passport for what I have been able to achieve with it thus far

chrisdstar:
So some people( e.g. Japanese ) dey this world wey no need visa to travel go anywhere?
Chaii there is nothing good in being born in Naija ooh, so beyond the suffering and dying/smiling, we are also in a cage....kai