In the realm of global travel, the power of a passport is measured by the number of countries its holder can visit without the need for a visa or with visa-on-arrival access.

While citizens of countries like Japan, Germany, and Singapore enjoy extensive travel freedom, others face significant restrictions.

Here’s a look at the top 10 weakest passports in the world in 2024, according to Best Diplomat, highlighting the countries where citizens face the most travel limitations.

Weakest Passports in the World

1. Afghanistan

Afghanistan has the world’s weakest passport, offering visa-free access to only nine countries: the Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Haiti, Kenya, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, and Seychelles. This limitation results from historical conflicts and geopolitical issues. Enhancing diplomatic relations and stability may improve Afghan citizens’ global mobility.

2. Iraq

Iraq’s passport is the second weakest globally due to past conflicts and ongoing instability. Iraqi citizens can enter 13 countries visa-free, including the Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Seychelles, Suriname, Syria, and Zambia. Rebuilding diplomatic ties and stability are essential for improving travel opportunities for Iraqis.

3. Syria

Syria’s passport ranks third weakest due to ongoing conflicts and limited diplomatic relations. Syrian citizens can travel visa-free to nine destinations, including the Cook Islands, Dominica, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, and Seychelles. Enhancing diplomatic efforts and stability could improve travel prospects for Syrians.

4. Pakistan

Pakistan’s passport is the fourth weakest, affected by political and security issues. Pakistani citizens can travel visa-free to 14 countries, including Barbados, Bermuda, the Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Niue, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. Improving diplomatic and economic conditions could enhance travel freedom for Pakistanis.

5. Yemen

Yemen’s passport is the fifth weakest, with limited visa-free access to 10 countries: the Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Malaysia, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, and Syria. Political unrest and lack of diplomatic relations contribute to these restrictions. Enhancing diplomatic efforts and stability could improve travel opportunities for Yemenis.

6. Somalia

Somalia’s passport ranks sixth weakest due to geopolitical instability and limited diplomatic ties. Somali citizens can travel visa-free to 11 countries: Benin, Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Gambia. Strengthening diplomatic relations and stability could enhance global mobility for Somalis.

7. Palestinian Territories

The Palestinian passport ranks seventh weakest due to political status and lack of international recognition. Palestinians can travel visa-free to 13 countries, including Bolivia, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Jordan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Niue, South Africa, Suriname, Venezuela, and Eswatini. Diplomatic solutions are needed to improve travel freedom for Palestinians.

8. Nepal

Nepal’s passport is the eighth weakest, with limited visa-free access. Nepalese citizens can travel to 13 countries without a visa, including the Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, India, Kenya, Micronesia, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Enhancing diplomatic relations could boost travel opportunities for Nepalese citizens.

9. North Korea

North Korea’s passport is the ninth weakest due to diplomatic isolation. North Korean citizens have visa-free access to 12 countries: Cook Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. Improving diplomatic relations is essential for enhancing travel opportunities for North Koreans.

10. Libya

Libya’s passport ranks tenth weakest, with restricted global mobility due to political instability. Libyan citizens can travel visa-free to 14 countries, including Algeria, Benin, Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Malaysia, Mauritania, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Strengthening diplomatic relations could improve travel opportunities for Libyans.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Abayomi Arabambi, had said that the party would not allow Peter Obi to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Arabambi made this statement in an interview on Channels Television on Friday monitored by DAILY POST.

According to him, the party is seeking a political solution to its internal crisis so that its 2023 presidential candidate won’t work with his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 poll. 

“Politically, we will not allow the crisis to fester for long that we will now allow Mr Peter Obi to join Atiku.

“We knew their plans, that was why we said ‘we need to explore political solution between ourselves,” he said.

The Labour Party chieftain also spoke on the recent legal tussle bedeviling the party wherein an FCT High Court barred Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Recall that Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court, ruling on an ex parte application on April 5, 2023, had restrained Abure, Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu, and Oluchi Opara from acting as national officers of the LP.

But in March 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside the judgment of the lower court which restrained Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour Party.

Justice Hamman Barka, leading a three-member panel of justices, held that Abure’s appeal had merit and was accordingly allowed. He held that the FCT high court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.

The court also awarded the sum of N1 million in favour of Abure and other appellants in the matter.

Reacting to the verdict, Arabambi said every action taken by Abure between March 2023 and March 2024 is a nullity.

“Since the Court of Appeal just set aside the judgement in March 2024, every other thing done between March 2023 and to 2024 by Julius Abure is a nullity,” he added.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global higher education network, has unveiled its World University Rankings for 2025, highlighting over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems worldwide.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States has been named the best university in the world.

The United States dominates the rankings with 197 institutions, followed by the United Kingdom with 90, and mainland China with 71.

In Africa, the University of Cape Town stands out as the top performer, achieving a global ranking of 171.

These rankings reflect the continued excellence and competitiveness of global higher education institutions:

Top universities in the world

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US
2. Imperial College London, UK
3. University of Oxford, UK
4. Harvard University, US
5. University of Cambridge, UK
6. Stanford University, US
7. ETH Zürich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
8. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
9. University College London, UK
10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech), US

Multichoice Nigeria says it will appeal Friday’s ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT, which slammed a N150 million fine against it for challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

The CCPT had also ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription on DStv and GOtv.

The tribunal had previously stopped Multichoice from increasing subscription fees without adequate notice, following a suit by Festus Onifade who argued that the 8-day notice given by Multichoice for a price hike was insufficient.

Reacting to the development, Multichoice differed with the ruling, saying it will appeal the decision.

The statement reads: “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT, regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter.

“We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling.

“As the matter is currently sub judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”

Onifade, who sued Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, accused the pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one-month notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders against Pay TV.

A three-member tribunal chaired by Saratu Shafii had ruled in favour of Onifade by restraining Multichoice in the  interim, in the suit marked CCPT/OP/2/2024.

It restrained the pay TV from going ahead with the impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

A former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has expressed his concerns regarding the issue of multiple taxations imposed on struggling Nigerians by the incumbent government.

During his appearance on the socio-political program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, which aired on Channels Television on Friday, the former president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention appealed to President Bola Tinubu to explore other rich sides of the country instead of taxing the citizens. on every side.

In his plea, Ayokunle emphasized the importance of revitalizing the country’s economy and encouraging investments in the agriculture and mining sectors.

He highlighted the untapped potential and valuable resources within these sectors, waiting to be harnessed for the nation’s benefit.

By focusing on these areas, Ayokunle noted that President Tinubu has the opportunity to unlock the goldmines that can contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development.

“Let’s delve into other aspects of our economy. Nigeria is rich, let’s explore, not just taxing, taxing. If you tax people, people will die,” Ayokunle said on the show.

Naija News reports that Ayokunle’s response comes after Tinubu’s administration drew the ire of a large section of Nigerians by introducing new taxes as citizens continue to grapple with the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

It could be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a memorandum last month, instructing all commercial banks to enforce a 0.5% levy on specific electronic transactions.

This levy allocates funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, specifically to enhance cyber security measures.

It is important to note that the levy is imposed on the individual initiating the transaction, rather than the recipient.

“The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, Cybersecurity Levy,” the memo read, adding that it was in line with the new cybercrime law signed by the president in February.

The levy was, however, later suspended after the outcry that greeted its introduction.

The spokesman of the Obi-Datti organisation, Yunusa Tanko, on Friday, clarified that the Obidient Movement is bigger than the Labour Party.

Tanko, while speaking on Channels TV, stated this despite the movement being supporters of the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

He said, “It’s bigger than the Labour Party. It is so because it is a move of its own that has a life of its own. What they are interested in is good governance

“Even if the Labour Party is doing something that is wrong, they are able to challenge it. Let me go further. Even His Excellency [Peter Obi], if he does something that is not aligned with good governance, we would challenge it.”

According to Tanko, the Obidient Movement is all about good governance, which Obi preaches.

He said, “They are loyal to the messages that connect to good governance and Peter Obi is championing that particular good governance.”

Recall that the Labour Party, after a backlash, recently renamed a directorate of the party named the Directorate of Obidient Affairs.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, the Obidient Directorate is now renamed as the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration.

Obiorah said, “Following the controversies arising from the creation of the Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs, in the party, the Directorate is hereby renamed the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration.

“The inauguration will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the party’s National Secretariat, Utako, Abuja, by 10 a.m. Party members and the general public should take note.”

In the wake of the move, Obi said the movement is beyond the LP and cuts across party, gender, and ethnic divides.

Obi said, “There may be a youth mobilization directorate in political parties, but the Obidient Movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations

“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country.”

A former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, has maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s lack of prior experience in the presidency warrants a grace period.

The PDP chieftain stressed that President Bola Tinubu might not have been able to achieve much in one year because he was studying the failures of his predecessors.

The elder statesman, therefore, called on Nigerians to give President Tinubu an additional year to deliver on his promises and fix the country’s challenges.

George highlighted in an interview with AriseTV on Friday, June 7, that Tinubu, being a first-time president, requires additional time to enact his policies and gain Nigerians’ trust in his vision.

The elder statesman said, “He (Tinubu) had never served at that level (presidency). Well… you will say he was part of the party (APC) that formed the government (of Muhammadu Buhari), but it’s a hell of a different thing taking over and now leading the team.

“To be fair to my conscience, he has had that one-year holiday of trying to study the failures of the past administration. I have given him that one year of grace because now he has seen it and lived there.

“I expect his ministers to have come back in one year with those areas of lapses. Even when Baba (Olusegun Obasanjo became president in 1999, he was still trying to figure out what happened there or vise-versa in his first year. Let’s give him more time.”

Nigerian ace singer, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has declared himself ‘a new cat’ (up-and-coming artiste).

Naija News reports that the ‘Koko’ master, who will celebrate his 20th anniversary in the music industry on June 7, 2024, made the declaration in a recent interview with Hip TV.

The 43-year-old singer spoke about his role in the global acceptance of Nigerian music through international collaboration.

D’banj noted that the music industry has evolved over the years, and despite the number of years he has spent in it, he still feels like he is scratching the surface again.

The singer also disclosed that he would be working with some new-generation artistes on his upcoming album, ‘Entertainer,’ which he said was a sequel to his critically acclaimed 2008 album, ‘The Entertainer.’

He said, “I am not the first [Nigerian artist] to have done an international collaboration. We were just the first to have done it the way we did it. Usually, when you want to do a collaboration with an international artist, it seemed before ours, like they were doing you a favour. But with the kind of grace that God gave us and the kind of team that we had, we were able to deliver one of the biggest [‘Mr Endowed’].

“I think that actually gave hope and visibility to the kids [new artists] to know that they can do it. So, I feel like a very proud father if I may say. That’s why I am a cat again [up-and-coming artiste]. Now, I want to feature not even international artistes but local artists. I want to feature Ayra Starr, Rema, Ruger and Don Jazzy. Collaboration is the new competition.”

The Nigerian government said it is releasing N20 billion to provide electricity meters for Band A customers before the end of September 2024.

Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, disclosed this on Friday at the BusinessDay Conference in Lagos.

“We are releasing N20 billion for the electricity distribution companies to procure meters for the unmetered Band A customers before the end of September,” he stated.

“The government has put in place the required framework to enable an injection of 1.5 million meters into the power sector through the World Bank Distribution Support Recovery Program.

“The Presidential Metering Initiative will ensure an additional 2 million meters will be procured annually for 5 years. This will ensure accurate billing, reducing revenue loss and improving cash flow for a more liquid power sector.”

According to latest data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, electricity customers in Nigeria without meters stood at 7,319,846 million which is 55.61 per cent of a total of 13,162,572 power consumers.

Consequently, only 5,842,726 electricity customers are metered of 13,162,572 registered consumers who get supply from the national grid, according to NERC.

The development comes as NERC announced a 245 per cent electricity tariff hike for Band A customers, getting 20-24 power supply in April.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress embarked on strike on Monday, calling for the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.

Leicester City have announced the departure of Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iheanacho is leaving the Foxes after seven years.

The 27-year-old’s contract will expire at the end of this month.

The Nigerian joined Leicester City from Manchester City in 2017.

Iheanacho scored 61 goals in Leicester’s colours, including the winner against his former club in the FA Community Shield final at Wembley in August 2021.

The Foxes also announced they are in talks with his compatriot, Wilfred Ndidi, over a new contract.

Ndidi’s current contract will end at the end of the month.