• Move meant to encourage massive FDI
The Federal Government is upgrading its visa-on-arrival policy to meet specific needs and in line with the policy of the present administration to diversify the economy by encouraging massive foreign direct investment (FDI), The Nation learnt at the weekend.
With the upgrade, the government is said to focus on reducing human-to-human contacts and improving ease of doing business without compromising the country’s national security.
The government is said to be making extensive use of e-solutions on migration management and policy in the country.
Top sources within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Ministry of Interior told our correspondent that since the inauguration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Technology Innovation Complex at the NIS headquarters in Abuja last year, there has been an urgent need to upgrade the visa-on-arrival policy in tandem with the reality of the technology infrastructure and other components to ensure complete monitoring of entrance into and exit of foreigners out of the country.
“We cannot operate the technology complex without looking at the loopholes or weaknesses of the visa-on-arrival policy. We have taken note of certain patterns regarding the movement of people into the country.
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“We have made our infrastructure all-encompassing and, as it is, the present approach and deployment of the infrastructure could be described as watertight in terms of security,” the source said.
Commenting recently on the new administration’s visa applications and approval, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the government was targeting a 48-hour maximum visa processing timeline for foreigners coming into Nigeria.
The minister said the Tinubu administration would ensure that foreigners seeking visas into the country get the document within 24 to 48 hours after application.
He assessed the visa policy while declaring open a training session on e-visa for 162 officers of the NIS who were selected from various formations across the country.
Tunji-Ojo said: “We want a scenario where it becomes easier for people to come into Nigeria. We want to be able to open our borders for economic participation, tourism and all short-stay visas.
“Let’s allow people to come and let’s not do that by compromising national security. We believe sincerely that we can get a fair mix of both in terms of convenience and national security.
“So, the whole idea of the e-visa solution is where people will be able to apply and get their visas electronically, and from application to approval. I think most of the time, it should be within 24 hours or a maximum of 48 hours.”
The minister told participants at training programme that they would be responsible for the turnaround of the e-visa policy in the area of user experience.
He added: “We don’t want people to wait forever to get visas to Nigeria.”
Officials of the NIS who spoke with our correspondent praised the present administration for its commitment and passion on passport applications and acquisition, visa application and approval and the deployment of e-gates at the nation’s airport.
Besides, they applauded the synergy between the minister and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap.