The government plans to reconsider the country's visa rules to draw in foreign investments and increase visits to the country.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo revealed this at a meeting on Nigeria visa at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo mentioned that last year's visitor numbers were low compared to the country's population and resources, and the visa policy needs to be reevaluated to align with President Bola Tinubu's goals.
He stated, "We are committed to having the new implementation framework in place in the next few weeks.
"And people from all over the world will find it easier to visit the country. We want to welcome investment and people. Last year, the number of foreign travelers to Nigeria was just under two million, which is unacceptable for a country of over 200 million people. This means we are limiting investment and foreign currency import. Getting the visa policy and implementation framework right will lead to economic prosperity."
He emphasized the importance of a visa policy that attracts investments and visitors without compromising security.
Additionally, he expressed the challenge of balancing easy visa access and national security, but highlighted the potential for healthy investment promotion once this balance is achieved.
He explained, "Seamless access to any country is crucial for investment promotion, job creation, and foreign direct investment. Effective visa administration is the foundation for this. We are here to streamline the visa process, particularly for short-stay and other visa categories, to attract more investments."
Tunji-Ojo further stated, "Having an efficient visa administration is essential for investment promotion, job creation, and foreign direct investment. We aim to optimize and enhance the visa process and make it more efficient to attract more investment."
He added that a successful visa policy will enhance tourism and infrastructure development in the country while also maintaining national security.
He highlighted the government's commitment to making Nigeria's visa policy the best globally and driving progress until this objective is met.
He emphasized that the emphasis on Nigeria's visa policy under the Tinubu-led administration is part of a renewed focus on making Nigeria the best in the world.
He noted, "The renewed hope is about prioritizing Nigeria as the best in the world. It's one thing to have a policy, but implementing it effectively is another."
He explained that the focus of the meeting is to explore using technology to reduce waiting times for obtaining short-stay, business, tourism, and entertainment visas, as well as to streamline the application process for greater accessibility.
He also questioned the need for individuals to travel long distances just to apply for a Nigerian visa and stressed the importance of making the application process more convenient through technology.
He said that the reasons people go to Qatar, UK, and Singapore more than Europe today is because it's easier to get there. So, our goal is to create a competitive framework that can be compared to the best in the world.
“We want to assure Nigerians that this is not just a workshop, neither are we just here to talk but to make it happen,” the Minister asserted.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Aishetu Ndayako, pointed out that the review is necessary because visas are important for the development of any country.
Ndayako said, “We are here today to discuss the importance of our combined efforts in shaping the future of visa rules and procedures that have a significant impact on individuals, businesses, and the nation as a whole.”
