The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Visa

  • Visa,banks partner to deepen mobile payment

    Global payments leader, Visa yesterday in Lagos, launched mVisa, its mobile payment service. The solution is being rolled out across Africa.

    Consumers from Visa’s Nigerian partner banks can pay with any mobile phone wherever mVisa is accepted. mVisa transactions are processed via Visa’s global network, VisaNet, applying the same scale, security and reliability as any other Visa transaction, the firm explained.

    With the launch of the app, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and First Bank will now offer their customers the convenience of mVisa through their mobile banking apps. Access Bank, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank will go live with mVisa in the coming weeks. Nigeria is the first market to provide customers the convenience of making cross-border payments using mVisa.

    President for Visa sub-Saharan Africa, Andrew Torre, said small and medium merchants in particular, no longer have to invest in expensive point of sale infrastructure as mVisa gives them the freedom to accept payments in a convenient, secure and affordable manner that their customers trust.

    “We are very excited to see more and more merchants come on board every day as they begin to understand the benefits that mVisa brings, including real-time notifications of payments and access to sales and transactions history. We have campaigns lined up for the coming months to support our merchants and encourage new customers to experience mVisa at various locations across Nigeria.

    “Today, Visa and its financial institution partners are, for the first time, providing the benefits of digital commerce to potentially everyone, everywhere across Nigeria and the African continent, bringing millions more people into the formal financial system,” he said.

    Diamond Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Uzoma Dozie, said the launch of mVisa is timely and aligns with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the digital growth strategy of the bank.

  • Interswitch, Visa partner on mobile money

    Visa Incorporated and  Interswitch have partnered to deepen  mobile payment adoption across Africa.

    The partnership will see the two payment firms upgrade the digital banking applications of leading banks to include mVisa, as well as enable more merchants to accept mVisa payments.

    mVisa is an innovative mobile payments solution that allows consumers to pay for goods from any type of phone by either scanning a QR code , or entering a merchant number. Payment goes straight from the consumer’s account into the merchant’s account and provides real-time notification to both parties. mVisa is completely interoperable, meaning that the consumer and the merchant do not need to be customers of the same bank.  It can also be used to enable consumers who use different mobile phones and services to interact.  This brings a versatile and secure mobile money solution, powered by Visa, to consumers everywhere.

    Consumers will experience the same look, feel and familiarity of their banking app but now they will have the option of making an mVisa payment in an easy-to-understand way. The solution is expected to be rolled out to Nigerian consumers before the end of this year.

    The partnership will also enable more merchants to accept mVisa, which will benefit the millions of local merchants and small medium enterprises (SMEs) who represent up to 60 percent of Nigeria’s economy. The mVisa solution will allow informal traders to accept electronic payments in a cost-effective way, without the need for investing in point of sale terminals.  Merchants are able to receive payments directly into their bank account within minutes of a consumer making a payment.

    Unlike other mobile payment solutions, mVisa supports well-established processes to handle refunds and chargebacks for consumers.

  • Businesswoman, two others held for alleged visa fraud

    Businesswoman, two others held for alleged visa fraud

    The Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos has arrested a businesswoman, Modupeola Afolabi, for allegedly procuring fake visas for the United Kingdom (UK) and China.

    Afolabi, 34, also procured fake London Heathrow Airport entry/exit stamps.

    She was paraded by SFU spokesman, Lawal Audu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), with Sesan Awolola, 31, and Adebayo Ajase, 28.

    The men were described as specialists in cloning visa payment slips and receipts.

    Afolabi, who claimed to be a university graduate, told reporters that she resorted to procuring the fake visas after she was denied United States of America (USA) visa twice.

    She said when she contacted a visa agent, he told her that the US Embassy in Nigeria rejected her visa application because she had a virgin passport.

    Afolabi said: “The agent, Olawale, told me there was something he would do so that when my documents are sent again, the US officials will grant my visa request. He told me that the US Embassy doesn’t verify the authenticity of visas from other countries and so, I agreed to do it.

    “I paid him N70,000 for the fake visas and stamps. I badly needed to travel to America to buy clothes for sale. I usually shop online and I felt if I started travelling to America to buy, it would be cheaper for me.

    “I have a registered business and I think I have enough money in my account but they rejected me twice. They found out when they were asking me questions during an interview that I have not been to the UK and that was how I was arrested.”

    According to Audu, the SFU received a petition from the US Embassy last year lamenting the amount of money it was losing to fraudsters, who use Corel Draw application and Microsoft Word to clone old receipts and present same for use by other visa applicants.

    Following the petition, Audu said the SFU began an investigation which led to the arrest and arraignment of three suspects, including one Ismaila Adefile before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere.

    However, other members of the syndicate, Audu said, continued to forge receipts which they used to book visa appointments for their clients.

    According to him, Awolola and Ajasa were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday after a visa applicant who used one of their fake receipts was detected at the embassy.

    Audu said: “The suspects claimed to be working as online appointment agents to the US Embassy. They specialise in manipulating visa payment receipts by using Corel Draw application on Microsoft Word to edit payment slips in order to use same for more than one applicant.

    “Trouble started for them when one applicant paid N60,000 into Ajasa’s account as appointment/visa fee for his son. Instead of making the payment upon receipt of the money, Ajasa opted to buy an already used payment receipt belonging to another applicant from Awolola for N30,000.

    “Ajasa manipulated the payment slip with the help of Corel Draw application in Microsoft Word and made a booking for his client. The Embassy noticed the irregularities and invited both applicants, who then revealed the names of the suspects.

    “Awolola also revealed that he was working with a notorious document vendor, Ismaila Adefile, who was arrested last year for the same offence and charged to court.

    “Members of the public are advised to be cautious about the activities of visa vendors parading themselves as agents. Their activities are fraudulent. No Embassy or High Commission appoints anyone as visa procurement agent. The Embassies and High Commissions usually notify us of any applicant who submits fake documents in support of their application.

    “The clients and the suspects would all be charged to court at the completion of investigation.”

    Confessing to the crime, Awolola said he had secured visa appointments for about 20 people since he started the trade in 2012.

    He claimed that he bought the visa receipt from Ajasa but did not know it had been used for another client.

    He said: “I have gotten appointments for over 20 persons in the past. I usually collected between N15,000 and N20,000 for each. The clients usually paid their visa fees at the bank and bring the receipt but this time around, the network was slow and Ajasa told me he had a receipt that had not been used. I knew it was a crime. I thought I was smart, but I now know that I am not as I have been caught.

    “I paid him (Ajasa) N30,000 out of the N64,000 I collected from my own client. My client called me when his attention was drawn to the fact that the payment receipt had been used. He was the one who led the police to me before I was arrested.”

  • I cried when denied visa to perform abroad – Kennyblaq

    I cried when denied visa to perform abroad – Kennyblaq

    Music comedian Otolorin Kehinde Peter, popularly known Kennyblaq, has revealed how pained he felt when he was once refused a visa to go and perform abroad.

    The entertainer is however grateful that all that is in the past as he has embarked on two international tours since then.

    “I remember when I wanted to go for my first international show last year Easter and I was refused visa, I cried,” Kennyblaq who is presently on a United States of America tour said.

    “But today, I have performed and also received awards as ‘Comedian of the Year’ in Egypt and Malaysia.”

    Speaking on having three top comedians introduce him onstage in one of the shows in UK, Kennyblaq described it as “an experience I will cherish forever. I did not see it coming. It was like a dream because I have never seen them do that to any comedian before. But I was scared because with that kind of hype I needed to give my best so they can be super proud of me. The audience were waiting after the introduction to see if what they actually said is what was about to happen.

    “I thank God because not only did the audience give a standing ovation, they sprayed me pounds and dollars too. Ali Baba, Okey Bakassi and AY, I go dye, Klint da drunk, and all the comedians present  at the event all said to me after the show,  ‘Kennyblaq, welcome to your success story page 1.’ It is a day I will never forget.”

    The comedian, who has a twin sister, started his comedy journey on August 9, 2008.

  • Immigration: Presidency advises Nigerians to delay travel to U.S.

    Immigration: Presidency advises Nigerians to delay travel to U.S.

    The Federal Government on Monday advised Nigerians who have no compelling or urgent reason to travel to the U.S. to postpone their travel plans until the new administration’s policy on immigration is clear.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa gave the advice in Abuja.

    Dabiri-Erewa in a statement by her media aide Abdurrahman Balogun, said that the warning became imperative due to series of reports received by her office.

    “In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry U.S. visas being denied entry and sent back to the Nigeria.

    “In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled.

    “No reasons were given for the decision by the U.S. immigration authorities,” she said

    She, however, reminded Nigerians in the Diaspora to abide by the rules and regulations of their host countries and be good ambassadors of the country.

    NAN reports that Nigeria was not among a group of countries from which Trump wants to suspend travel to the U. S. on security grounds.

    President Donald Trump is to sign a revised executive order to “clarify who is covered” under a policy that halted entry to the U.S. from several Muslim countries, White House Adviser, Kellyanne Conway said on Monday.

    Conway said that there would be “a new executive order” to take effect March 16, and that Iraq was no longer included “based on their enhanced screening and reporting measures.”

    The document would replace an order in late January that temporarily banned tourist, immigration and most other entries from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

    Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen were the former countries that were affected by the initial order.

    The order caused travellers to be stranded at different international airports around the world and set off a wave of protests.

    It was later blocked by a court.

    The January order also suspended the U.S. refugee programme for 120 days and indefinitely blocked refugees from Syria.

    Under the new order, Syrian refugees “are treated the way all refugees are,” and it makes “much clearer if you have travel docs, if you actually have a visa.

    “If you are a legal permanent resident, you are not banned under this particular executive action,” Conway said.

    Earlier on Monday in Baghdad, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal said the ministry voiced “deep relief” at press reports that Iraq would not be on the new banned list.

    He described the anticipated move as “an important step in the right direction in order to consolidate the strategic alliance between Baghdad and Washington in many areas.

    He pointed out that the relationship between the two countries most importantly the war on terrorism. (NAN)

  • Easy visa

    •Commendable business strategys, but government should walk the talk

    THE plan by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to facilitate ease of doing business is beginning to bear concrete strategies. One of such plans is with regards to the issuance of visa. According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the process has been made more business friendly, with the creation of different types of visas, which include visa on arrival, business visa, tourist visa and transit visa. Another friendly development is the news from the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) that business registration can now be concluded at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), within 60 days, using one form, instead of the previous seven forms.
    We commend the PEBEC for these practical actions to make the business environment friendlier, in the hope that the relevant agencies will walk their talk. According to Mohammed, the new visa policies are geared towards boosting tourism, in line with the economic diversification agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. In his words: “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to make them more customer friendly and details of this review are available on the NIS official website”.
    By that arrangement, high-net-worth foreign business men, who wish to quickly visit Nigeria for a business trip, need not bother seeking for the nearest Nigerian consulate to obtain a visa, before making a few days visit. Under the arrangement, they can obtain a visa at the point of entry, to attend a business meeting, seminar, conference, or a trade fair. The tourist visa is also available for those wishing to visit the many tourist sites in Nigeria, or those seeking to visit their families and friends. There are plans also to harmonise the multiple forms/cards filled at the arrival points, into only one form/card.
    Other efforts to key into the 60-day national action plan, for ease of doing business include the creation of additional 28 offices across the country, for the issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card, and also the decentralisation of the re-issuance of passports to all the state commands of the National Immigration Services. It is towards the same purpose that the CAC is working to ensure a 60-day cycle for the registration of business.
    According to a report, the Special Assistant to the Registrar-General of the CAC, Garba Abubakar, at the Enabling Business Environment forum in Lagos, said: “we now have just one form which has been deployed this week. It contains all the information you need to register and is available for download on the CAC website. This reduces the cost and time needed to register a business”.
    A similar forum was held a day before in Kano. Another initiative to aid the ease of doing business is the introduction of e-stamp duty, without visiting the Federal Inland Revenue Service. There is also the issuance of Tax Identification Number at the point of business registration.
    According to Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the coordinator of EBES, the game plan is to use the fora across the country to inform business men and women of the current efforts, share details of the action plan and report back to the PEBEC. She also said the recent unscheduled visit by the acting President to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was a fallout of such feedback.
    The minders of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency argue that what is happening is the actualisation of the government’s action plan to diversify the economy. We commend these efforts and urge for their sustenance.

  • Fed Govt eases visa, travel rules

    Fed Govt eases visa, travel rules

    Foreigners, who wish to visit Nigeria for business and tourism purposes, will no longer be subjected to any bureaucratic bottleneck, following the review of visa processes by the Federal Government.

    The move is designed to encourage business travellers and tourists to boost the economy.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, said the measures were part of the plan to ease doing business as well as efforts to boost tourism in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s economic diversification agenda.

    “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to make them more customer-friendly and details of this review are available on the NIS official website, www.immigration.gov.ng.

    “Types of visas currently reviewed include visa on arrival (VoA) processes, business visas, tourist visas and transit visas,” the minister said.

    Mohammed explained that business visas are available for foreign travellers, who wish to come to Nigeria for meetings, conferences, seminars, contract negotiation, marketing, sales, purchase and distribution of Nigerian goods, trade fairs, job interviews, training of Nigerians, emergency/relief work, crew members, staff of NGOs, staff of INGOs, researchers and musical concerts.

    He said tourist visas were also available to foreign travellers, who wish to visit Nigeria for the purpose of tourism or to visit family and friends.

    Mohammed explained that visa on arrival is a class of short visit visa issued at the port of entry, and it is available to frequently-travelled high-net-worth investors and intending visitors, who may not be able to obtain visa at the Nigerian missions/embassies in their countries of residence due to the absence of a Nigerian mission in those countries or exigencies of urgent business travels.

    The minister said other actions taken by the Immigration Services were harmonisation of multiplicity of airport arrival and departure forms/cards into a single form and the decentralisation of immigration services to state commands.

    “Re-issuance of passports for change of names due to marital reasons or lost cases have been decentralised to all state commands and foreign missions to save passport holders from additional costs and inconvenience of travelling to the Service Headquarters in Abuja. Additional 28 offices have been opened for issuance of residence permits in Nigeria, bringing the issuance of Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Cards (CERPAC) closer to the doorstep of employers of expatriates at all 36 states and FCT,” he said.

    Mohammed said the measures fit perfectly into the 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business in Nigeria approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), as well as the administration’s efforts to boost international tourism.

  • Beware of fake Canadian Visa Lottery- embassy

    The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner in
    Lagos, Mr Lajos Arendas, on Wednesday said that it was imperative for
    Nigerians to know of the non-existence of any Canadian Visa Lottery.

    Arendas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his
    government had never been involved in any form of Visa Lottery
    programme, and that it was currently non-existent.

    NAN reports that there had been rumours and speculations among
    Nigerians, that the Canadian Government had opened up its Visa Lottery
    programme for Nigerians and other countries.

    “This is false information. In fact, the U.S. used to have, and
    perhaps still do, but Canada does not have a visa lottery programme.

    “As far as I know, it has never existed in Canada. At least,
    certainly not in my 24-year career.

    “It looks like some people are spreading rumours, and these could be
    linked to a possible scam.

    “The one thing you could tell the public is that you contacted me
    and I firmly stated that there is no such thing as a Canadian Visa
    Lottery,’’ he said.

    Arendas, who referred NAN’s Correspondent to the High Commission’s
    Immigration Department website, said that it was important for
    Nigerians to know that what does not exist in the site does not
    exist. (NAN)

  • ‘Dont process Indian Visa through agents’

    Mr Subbu Ramesh, Second Secretary at the High Commission of India in Lagos, on Thursday enjoined Nigerians to desist from patronising agents or touts when seeking visas to India.

    Ramesh told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos that the High Commission had not authorised any agents or individuals to collect visa
    application documents and accept payments on its behalf.

    The High Commission official, however, said that his government was currently tinkering with the idea of whether to contract its visa
    collection and processing services to an internationally-recognised visa processing organisation.

    “Once again, we really want Nigerians to know that we have not authorised any agent or group of persons to collect visa applications and accept payments on behalf of the Visa Section of the Indian High Commission in Lagos.

    “There is, therefore, no need for Nigerians seeking visas to India for any purpose, to want to come to us through any agent or unauthorised
    persons.

    “We want Nigerians to know that they are very free, and should come to our High Commission directly, without having to pay extra charges to
    any individual of agent,’’ he said.

    The High Commisson’s second secretary, therefore, advised Nigerians and other nationals in Nigeria, seeking visas to India, not to allow themselves to be ‘unduly’ exploited by unauthorised visa agents.

    Ramesh, who assured Nigerians of prompt issuance of visas to India, however, said that preference would henceforth be given to
    Nigerian companies doing business with India.

    He also said that it was imperative for Nigerians to know that his government’s visa issuance policy to Nigerians had not in any way been
    modified.

    Ramesh also said that it was important for Nigerians and other nationals in Nigeria, to know that the Indian High Commission’s current visa
    charges were reciprocal with Nigeria’s visa charges.(NAN)

  • Visa is ‘Best Card Payment Scheme’

    Visa Incorporated, the global leader in payments, has been announced as offering the Best Card Payment Scheme in Nigeria. This was made known at the 4thAnnual BJAN Marketing Awards held in Lagos.

    The theme was tagged: “Mobile Money in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and Threats” which addressed the challenges of this platform and how to find lasting solutions to create effective mobile money programmes in the country.

    At the Awards’ presentation, Country Manager for Visa West Africa Ade Ashaye said: “We are excited to receive this award for Best Card Payments Scheme in Nigeria and it is an honour to be recognised by the Brand Journalists Association in Nigeria. Visa’s aim has always been to replace costly, inefficient forms of payment with more secure, convenient and reliable ways to pay and be paid.’’

    Visa improves lives and livelihoods, foster opportunities and strengthens economies through its efficient and secure digital payments solution which aligns to the financial inclusion plans of the Federal Government  and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Visa is also committed to bringing the benefits of electronic payments to 500 million more people globally by the end of 2020.

    The BJAN Chairman, Goddie Ofose said Visa emerged the winner after considering the organisation’s strides in the provision of digital financial services to the financial services industry in Nigeria through its contribution to the cashless  initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the ability of the company to localise its products to meet the needs of the  Nigerian market.

    Visa was nominated alongside other payment platforms in the financial services industry and emerged the winner after the organisations’ performance for the year was reviewed using measurement tools defined by the Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria.