The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that there was no policy for issuance of visa on arrival Africans visiting the country.
One of the benefits of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative is an issuance of visa on arrival to foreign nationals visiting the country for investment opportunities.
Recall that the African Union (AU), had advocated a single African passport, to enhance trade relations.
The AU also made a case for the abolition of visa requirements for Africans entering the country.
The NIS maintained yesterday, that until there was a government policy on the AU’s proposal, the status quo on visa for Africans remained.
A statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday James, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI), said the clarification had become necessary, in view of a “recently circulated visa policy”.
James said: “As the Federal Government of Nigeria’s lead and foremost agency saddled with the responsibility for the regulation and enforcement of migration laws of the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service states clearly that; no such decision was in place, it is an unconfirmed and yet to be considered policy of the government of Nigeria.
“Though the AU has advocated for a “Single African Passport” aimed at improving Intra-African trade and relations and has called for the abolition of Visa requirements for all African Citizens in the years to come “as a follow-up to the 2016 electronic African Union Passport launched and issued to heads of State and governments’. It does not culminate into “Free movement on the continent without Visa in a Visa free regimes which may include Visa on Arrival at Ports of entry for Africans “as suggested by the post.
“In view of the foregoing, the Nigeria Immigration Service herby emphasizes and advises the general public to ignore the Facebook post or other online post in line of the purported AU “Visa on Arrival”, which is neither an approved Visa Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria nor agreement signed for implementation.
“Nigeria Immigration Service will always communicate any approved government policy on Visa Issues to the public through credible and recognized means and medium at any given time.”
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