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US drops out of World’s most powerful passport Top 10 list for the first time

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For the first time in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index, the United States passport has fallen out of the top 10 global ranking of travel mobility. The ranking is compiled by the global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association.

Three Asian passports now lead the index: Singapore (193 visa-free destinations), South Korea (190 destinations), Japan (189 destinations).

The US is now positioned in 12th place, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 of the 227 destinations tracked.

The US passport, which held the No. 1 spot in 2014 and was still in the top 10 as recently as July of this year, has seen its standing decline due to several global access changes.

The descent of the US passport is attributed to a series of reciprocal and unilateral policy shifts by other nations: Brazil withdrew visa-free access for US citizens in April due to a lack of reciprocity.

China expanded its visa exemption policies for several European nations (like Germany and France) but did not include the US. New policies in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar reduced the US passport’s mobility relative to others.

The final changes included Somalia’s launch of a new eVisa system and Vietnam’s exclusion of the US from its latest visa-free additions.

Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, stated that this decline “signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” where “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.” The UK passport has also dropped, falling two places since July to its lowest-ever position at 8th.

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In contrast to the US decline, other nations have made significant gains:

China has climbed sharply from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining visa-free access to 37 more destinations.The UAE is noted as one of the biggest success stories, having risen 34 places in the past decade, from No. 42 to 8th place.

At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains in last place at No. 106, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations.

The US’s decline is also seen as a reflection of its “limited openness.” While US citizens can travel to 180 destinations visa-free, the US allows only 46 nationalities to enter without a visa, a disparity that is one of the widest globally.

This retreat in international engagement has led to a surge in demand from Americans for alternative residence and citizenship options. Despite the fall in rankings, experts still note that the top passports remain highly desirable, with the difference for the average person being minimal.

The Henley list is one of several indices measuring passport power. Arton Capital’s Passport Index for 2025 places the United Arab Emirates in the top spot.

World’s most powerful passports for 2025 (Henley Passport Index)

Singapore (193 destinations)
South Korea (190)
Japan (189)
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland (188)
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands (187)
Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (186)
Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland (185)
Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (184)
Canada (183)
Latvia, Liechtenstein (182)
Iceland, Lithuania (181)
USA, Malaysia (180)

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Public officers are stealing Nigeria’s money every minute – EFCC boss

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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says public officers steal funds every minute.

Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the 80th birthday celebration of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi.

He stated that the anti-graft agency receives over 20,000 corruption petitions every year, describing the scale of the theft detailed in many cases as shocking.

“I receive over 20,000 petitions in a year in respect to public corruption, all terrible. What is going on? Like every minute, public officers take money, and if you go through some of our case files you will weep.

“The way people take national resources and Nigerians are victims of these fraudulent activities. And we must come together for once in our lifetime and say no to the activities of some of our leaders,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC boss noted that some public officers assume office with less than ₦100,000 in their accounts, but within three years, the agency traces millions of dollars to them.

He added that some individuals acquire hundreds of houses while in office, warning that corruption is crippling the nation.

Olukoyede stressed that public officers must be held accountable for their time in office, emphasizing that transparency must remain the guiding standard in public service.

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VIDEO: Police identify officer in viral video saying Obi can never be President

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested an officer who appeared in a viral video making inappropriate remarks about Peter Obi and Igbo people while travelling on public transport.

The officer who has been identified as INSP. Osumah Frank, was filmed saying Obi or any Igbo person can never become President of Nigeria.

In a statement released today September 25, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola said the command has commenced appropriate disciplinary action against the officer in line with established regulations of the Nigeria Police Force.

Abimbola stated that the statements made by the officer were made in his personal capacity and do not represent the position, views or official disposition of the Lagos State Police Command or the Nigeria Police Force.

She added that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, has reiterated the position of the command that all its personnel are expected to maintain professionalism, civility, discipline and respect for members of the public at all times. She further reaffirmed that wearing the Police uniform comes with a responsibility to uphold the dignity and integrity of the Force, and that the Command will not condone any conduct capable of bringing the Force into disrepute or undermining public confidence in the Police.

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Court rejects suit seeking fresh police investigation into late singer Mohbad’s death

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a fresh investigation into the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Justice James Omotosho dismissed the case filed by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation in a judgment delivered on Thursday, ruling that the foundation lacked the legal capacity to institute the suit.

The judge also described the application as speculative and lacking sufficient merit, noting that the foundation failed to produce the original police investigation report to support its claim that the earlier investigation was inadequate.

Justice Omotosho further cautioned lawyers handling ongoing cases against discussing matters before the court during media interviews or on social media, describing such conduct as professional misconduct.

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