The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammad Babandede

  • Foreign investors: NIS unviels online ‘visa on arrival’ platform

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the introduction of a liberalised online Visa on Arrival (VOA) facility to the public, especially foreign investors willing to invest in Nigeria.

    The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Babandede said that‎ the measure was part of the resolution of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) aimed at attracting foreign investors to the country.

    “‎As a critical member of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the NIS has automated its visa application and processing services at all entry points.

    “This is to ensure that all genuine requests for Visa on Arrival facility from any part of the world are processed and issued within 48 hours (two working days),” he said.

    He explained that the‎ online VOA application and processing facility is a product of robust visa reforms regime intended to bring Nigeria in tandem with global best practices and attract  Foreign Direct Investors and skilled professionals into the country.

    The controller-general said that the new process was‎ designed to eliminate all unnecessary bureaucratic visa processing procedures in Nigerian Missions abroad.

    He said it was also to serve the interests of would-be visitors from countries where Nigeria does not have a Mission.‎

    He said that‎ ‎a dedicated e-mail address oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng had been deployed where visa applicants, their representatives or companies could forward their requests and details.

    Babandede said that‎ a‎pplicants were advised to use functional e-mail addresses where copies of approval letter shall be forwarded upon a successful process and payment.‎

    ‎”‎Applicants are, however, to note that successful payment online is not an approval and should not proceed to Nigeria until you have received “Visa on Arrival Approval letter” duly issued by the NIS Headquarters, Abuja,” he added.‎

    He said that a VOA desk had been opened at all international airports in the country where visas would be issued upon the presentation of all the necessary travel documents and evidence of visa payment.

    The NIS boss expressed optimism that the VOA process and the introduction of the harmonised arr‎ival and departure cards would go a long way in attracting investors to the country.

  • FG inaugurates ultra-modern passport office in Abuja

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has inaugurated an ultra-modern Passport office complex at Gwagwalada for the FCT, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Command.

    The minister promised Nigerians ‎that similar passport offices would be inaugurated across the country in the nearest future.

    He said that the measure was to reduce the stress and inconveniences being faced by applicants who hitherto travelled to Abuja from their various locations for resolution of passport-related issues.

    “This inauguration is in‎ line with the decentralisation policy of passport offices by the Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.

    Earlier, the‎ Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, had pledged to ensure improved training for passport officers to ensure better service delivery.

    He also warned them against corruption and exploitation of those applying for passports, insisting that those found culpable would face the full wrath of the law. ‎

    However, there have been cases of delays and exploitation of Nigerians seeking to get or renew their international passports from the various NIS offices.