The Nigerian passport has achieved its best ranking in the past five years, moving up to 88th position out of 199 on the latest Henley Passport Index released on July 18.

The index is updated frequently using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and expert insights on recent trends in passport strength.

Nigeria now shares the 88th ranking with Ethiopia and Myanmar—the same countries it was grouped with earlier in the year when it held the 91st position.

However, even with the improved ranking, it still provides visa-free access to just 45 countries, offering limited travel freedom much like it did last year when it stood at 92nd.

In July 2023, Nigeria was ranked 90th but later dropped to 97th, falling behind African nations such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia.

In 2022, it occupied the 98th position, showing a recovery from a previous low of 103rd in 2021.

In the latest Henley Passport Index, Nigeria ranked above only six African countries—Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.

This trend is consistent with last year’s pattern.

Meanwhile, Seychelles maintained its status as the most powerful passport in Africa but slipped to the 24th spot globally with visa-free access to 156 countries.

Back in March, Seychelles was ranked 22nd worldwide.

Singapore remained at the top of the list, offering access to 193 countries, while Afghanistan stayed in the last position, granting entry to just 25 countries.

The United States, which held the top ranking in 2014, has now fallen to 10th place in the latest list.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan showed up at the National Assembly on Tuesday, where a crowd of her supporters had already gathered outside the complex.

Security presence at the National Assembly gate was significantly heightened, with stern-looking officers inspecting vehicles and limiting access for visitors, directing them to park outside.

At least five police patrol vans were observed stationed at a key point near the Assembly gate.

The increased security followed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s declaration that she intended to resume her senatorial duties despite warnings from the Senate.

The senator, who was suspended in March, said over the weekend that she had officially informed the Senate of her plans to return, basing her decision on a recent court ruling.

Speaking during a constituency training session, she stated that she had written the Senate leadership about her return.

“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order, it’s not an order, but it is a decision,” she insisted.

She emphasized that although her suspension hadn’t hindered her from carrying out constituency-related initiatives, it had prevented her from fully participating in legislative responsibilities such as introducing bills and sponsoring motions.

Her position was supported by her legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, West Idahosa, who asserted that the court’s ruling justified her return to the Senate.

“Let me be honest with you. Attendance is a legislative action.

“As far as we are concerned, we are focused on the appeal and other issues before the court.

“I think the decision to go back to the Senate will be determined by the constituents.

“Now that she said she wants to go and resume, let us see what the reaction of the Senate will be. But the most important thing is that she is still a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said in a phone interview.

When contacted on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s aide, Isah Bala, said he couldn’t confirm her immediate plans.

“It is not something I can immediately confirm now because we just returned from a programme in Okene,” he said, adding that he would provide clarity later.

By the time of reporting, Bala had yet to respond with further information.

Meanwhile, the Senate reiterated its stance that the senator remains suspended and barred from the chamber until the conclusion of the suspension period.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, restated the Senate’s position on Sunday, saying there was no court order mandating her reinstatement.

In a separate development, activist Aisha Yesufu pledged to accompany Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate on Tuesday as a show of support.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu criticized the Senate’s position and cautioned against ignoring judicial decisions.

She also labeled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as unconstitutional and accused the Senate of overstepping its bounds.

Efforts by a coalition of opposition politicians operating under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are facing resistance as a segment of stakeholders strongly rejects Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s appointment as the party’s Interim National Secretary.

The group, led by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Musa Isa Matara, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning what they described as the “attempted takeover” of the party by Aregbesola.

“We are not opposed to coalitions. We are not opposed to reform. But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language,” stated the stakeholders, which include women and youth groups within the party.

Matara emphasized that without a valid, constitutionally recognized ADC National Convention or National Executive Committee (NEC) endorsement, no one possesses the legal or moral authority to speak for the party at the national level.

According to the stakeholders, key figures such as the NEC, state chairmen, youth leaders, and elected national officers were not involved in the decision to name Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary.

They argue that portraying the ADC as the “platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group” is misleading, asserting that millions of members were neither informed nor included in the decision-making process.

They stated, “If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.”

The group further warned that those joining the party under the current coalition arrangement should proceed cautiously, citing ongoing unresolved legal disputes stemming from the 2023 general elections.

“These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive,” they noted.

The statement added, “We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain. The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”