Ministry of Interior Clarifies Fee for Renouncing Nigerian Nationality Remains at N2 Million

A physician residing in the Netherlands has ignited discussions on social media by alleging that the Nigerian government has raised the cost to renounce nationality from N50,000 to N5 million.

In a widely shared video, the doctor, who hails from Cameroon, stated:

‘’If you are a Nigerian living in the Netherlands and those who have naturalized in the Netherlands, I have a question. I recently learned from someone that, as of May 2025, Nigeria might have altered the cost of renouncing your nationality. For those in the Netherlands who obtained their Dutch nationality via naturalization, you must renounce your old nationality because the Netherlands does not permit dual nationality unless your country of origin allows you to retain it after renunciation.

Thus, you must actively renounce your previous nationality. The Netherlands requires that to acquire Dutch nationality, you formally denounce your old nationality through official procedures. This process previously cost N50,000, approximately €31, but it has purportedly been increased to N5 million according to claims from last year.

So my fellow Nigerians, are you actually paying this amount, or is it just a formality? It would mean spending one thousand euros for Dutch nationality and then three thousand two hundred euros to renounce Nigerian nationality. This cannot be true! Can you believe Nigerians are genuinely paying this much to renounce their nationality?'' he expressed.

Some Nigerians commenting on the post confirmed they had indeed paid such high amounts to renounce their nationality.

The Linda Ikeji Blog reached out to the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Mary Ali, who clarified that the official fee for renouncing Nigerian nationality is actually N2 million.