Passport inequality, Bankole Oluwafemi's Nigerian perspective on global mobility

LAST week, Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across the world's seven continents. The current record of 64 hours is held by Johnny Cruz Buckingham of the US, set in February 2025.

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Asinobi's journey began on March 20th from Antarctica, taking her through Chile, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Egypt, and Dubai. Her record-breaking ambitions were ultimately dashed by the obstacles that come with travelling while Nigerian - including being denied boarding a flight to Perth, which delayed her arrival in Sydney. Total travel time: 71 hours and 35 minutes.

Although she failed to break Buckingham's record, Asinobi's journey has ignited fresh conversations about passport inequality and travel restrictions faced by citizens of developing nations.

It's a reality even Africa's wealthiest person, Aliko Dangote, has acknowledged. During a 2023 Africa CEO Forum conversation with CNN's Larry Madowo, Dangote revealed that despite his high-net-worth individual (HNWI) status, his Nigerian passport subjects him to dozens of visa applications annually - just to move around the continent, let alone the rest of the world. He pointed out that, HNWI privileges notwithstanding, he enjoys considerably less freedom of movement than an everyday Western passport holder.

Meet Bankole Oluwafemi

I first encountered Bankole ‘Lord Banks’ Oluwafemi’s work back in 2013 when TechCabal was still finding its feet as one of the first dedicated African tech publications. Long before the current wave of ‘Africa rising’ tech narratives became fashionable, he was documenting Nigeria's nascent startup ecosystem from cramped co-working spaces in Lagos, often navigating through the city's notorious traffic to chase stories with nothing but a notepad, curiosity and an unwavering belief that African tech deserved serious coverage.