In the latest revelation from VisaGuide’s World Passport Index, the Nigerian passport has been positioned as the 10th worst travel document globally.
This ranking places Nigeria at 191 out of 199 countries assessed, signaling significant limitations for Nigerian passport holders in international travel.
The index, which utilizes the Destination Significance Score (DSS) to evaluate and rank passports, factors in various criteria to determine their strength. Despite efforts to improve international relations and diplomatic ties, the Nigerian passport finds itself placed above countries such as North Korea, Iraq, and Libya.
Singapore emerges as the leader in passport strength, securing the top spot on the index, closely followed by Italy. Spanish, French, and German passports round out the top five, showcasing the dominance of European passports in global mobility.
Factors contributing to the ranking include visa-free travel, electronic travel authorizations, visa on arrival facilities, and embassy-approved visas. The Destination Significance Score is calculated based on entry policies, GDP, Power Index, Tourism Index, and Human Development Index (HDI), among other metrics.
A spokesperson for VisaGuide highlighted the importance of destination countries’ DSS values, stating, “Being able to travel visa-free to a destination with a higher DSS gives the selected passport a higher value than having visa-free access to a country with a lower DSS.”
