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The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against leaving the country without valid travel documents.

In a public alert posted on X on Monday, DCI AS Akinlabi, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), stressed that such actions are illegal and expose individuals to serious risks.

It cautioned that all international travel must be carried out with a valid passport, visa (where required), and other approved immigration documents.

It noted that any attempt to bypass official procedures or use unauthorised border routes constitutes a violation of Nigerian law.

The NIS also raised concern over the growing use of fraudulent migration schemes, where criminal networks lure unsuspecting citizens, particularly young people, with false promises of employment, education, or better living conditions abroad.

“These schemes often result in forced labour, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation,” the service warned, adding that no legitimate travel process bypasses established immigration procedures or official border posts.

Members of the public were also advised to report suspicious activities to the nearest Immigration Service formation or other relevant security agencies.

The agency urged Nigerians to verify all travel and recruitment offers through official channels and avoid dealing with unregistered agents or individuals promoting irregular migration.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced the implementation of a 30-day visa exemption for Rwandan nationals.

The directive followed an announcement by President Bola Tinubu at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

The exemption reciprocates a similar gesture extended by the Rwandan government to Nigerian citizens.

The NIS, in a statement signed by its Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, on Friday, said the arrangement took immediate effect.

“Following the announcement by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, granting Rwandan nationals a 30-day visa exemption, reciprocating similar gesture from Rwandan Government to Nigerian citizens, the Nigeria Immigration Service has completed all arrangements for the directive’s implementation,” the statement read.

Under the bilateral arrangement, Rwandan nationals may enter Nigeria without a visa for up to 30 days for lawful purposes, including tourism, business, and official engagements.

The service, however, noted that those seeking to stay beyond the approved period must obtain the appropriate visa.

“Individuals seeking to remain in Nigeria beyond the approved 30-day period will be required to obtain the appropriate visa through a Nigerian Embassy or High Commission abroad, or the Nigeria e-Visa channel,” it stated.

The NIS added that all international entry points had been put on notice.

“All international entry points, including airports, land borders, and seaports, have been directed to commence immediate implementation of the policy in line with the Presidential directive,” the statement said.

The service described the initiative as one that “reflects the strong diplomatic and bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Rwanda, while promoting intra-African mobility, tourism, and economic cooperation in line with continental aspirations.”

It added that it “remains committed to facilitating safe, orderly, and lawful migration in accordance with international best practices and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate passports held by persons who have formally renounced their Nigerian citizenship.

The directive, contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Alao Babatunde, covers Nigerians whose renunciation requests have been formally approved by the President.

Tunji-Ojo said the ministry, saddled with the responsibility of citizenship integrity, derives its authority for the directive from Section 29(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The statement quoted the constitutional provision as stating: “(1)Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

“(2)The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.”

According to the statement, the minister said once a person ceases to be a citizen, they can no longer hold any sovereign document of Nigeria, including a passport.

He also described the move as consistent with ongoing passport and visa reforms undertaken by the ministry in recent years.

He said the latest directive was aimed at closing a gap that allowed former citizens to continue travelling on Nigerian passports after their renunciation had been officially recognised.

“We will continue to strengthen systems that secure Nigeria’s borders, prevent identity fraud, preserve the sanctity of Nigerian citizenship, and facilitate legitimate travel while preventing unauthorised or ineligible access,” Tunji-Ojo said.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has again dismissed claims of a rift between him and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state remains united.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Aiyedatiwa said he has no personal issues with the minister, stressing that politics naturally involves differing interests.

“The young man you mentioned, the Hon. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, I don’t have any issue with him. If you ask him, he will tell you the same. Politics is laden with interest, so different people have different interests. There is no fight, no division. We are members of the same family, members of the same APC,” the governor said.

He further clarified that Tunji-Ojo primarily works and resides in Abuja, and any perception of tension between them is baseless.

“I don’t have anything to do with the minister. He lives in Abuja and works in Abuja. We are working together as one. Interest differs and there are levels in leadership, but that does not mean division,” the governor said.

He added, “Those who believe in his own leadership, they are part of the LG and State executives. So, we are working together as one. Yes, interest differs and there are levels in leadership. BTO is a leader in his own right as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is a level.

“I’m a governor and that’s another level of leadership. So, there are some members of the party that believe in one person or another. We have senators, members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly who have their own followers too and those who believe in them.”

Aiyedatiwa also denied claims that he is pushing members away from the party, describing the APC as “so big that you cannot drive people away.”

The governor said the party continues to attract new entrants, citing the recent defection of Agboola Ajayi, the PDP governorship candidate in the last election, as an example.

“Some people have different interests or notions. The party is so big now that you can’t drive or chase people away because new entrants, new people are joining us. For example, the PDP governorship candidate, who contested against me in the last governorship election (Agboola Ajayi) has defected into the APC as we speak.

“Don’t forget that he scored about 150,000 votes which is almost a winning figure in previous governorship election who won the governorship seat in the past.

“And I scored 666,781 votes, the highest ever in the history of the governorship election in Ondo State. For the fact that I have such figures means I’m very popular among the people. They want me. They preferred me at the time which is still the same thing right now. So, I’m not chasing anybody away and there is no attack from me to anybody.”

Aiyedatiwa also highlighted that the APC controls the entire state legislature.

“Today, for the first time, all 26 members of the House of Assembly are APC members. Everyone is working together as one, despite differences in levels of leadership. There are senators, House of Representatives and State Assembly members with their own followers, but we remain united,” he said.

The governor emphasized that the party remains the “only viable political option in the state.”

“Nobody can leave the party. Ondo State is APC. There is no alternative. Don’t forget we just had our state congress. Everyone who believes in leadership is part of the LG and State executives,” Aiyedatiwa said.

The governor’s comments come amid speculation about internal disagreements within the APC in Ondo State, following defections and competing political interests.