From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
NIGERIA’S new visa policy has been received with great excitement by foreign diplomats.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently announced visa on arrival policy for members of African Union (AU) bloc and investors. The aim is to improve the ease of doing business with the ultimate aim of attracting investments into the country.
The new visa regime, which is an improvement on the former one, accommodates diplomats’ aged family members.
The visa categories, increased from six to 79, allows for visa waiver for international organisations, holders of diplomatic passport, non-accredited diplomats.
Besides, spouses of accredited diplomats and family members are now captured under a specific visa regime.
It also accommodates religious tourism, sport, entertainment and study. There is also business visa and medical visa.
Read Also: New visa policy excite foreign diplomats
Expressing the excitement of the accredited diplomats in the country, Head of Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria, Ambassador Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahima of Cameroon, said they are happy with the news that they can bring in their age parents to stay with them while working in Nigeria.
He said: “We are glad that we can have our aged parents to come here with us.”
Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr. Solomon Christopher Momoh Gembeh, who expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to overcome the Coronavirus, said the new visa policy was a welcome development.
Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration Mrs. Victoria Isangedighi said the new regime is based on reciprocity.
She said for countries that give Nigerians multiple entry visa, Nigeria will also reciprocate.
Leave a Reply