Nigeria Introduces 48-Hour E-Visa Processing for Foreign Travelers
Written by SpringNewsNG
The Federal Government of Nigeria has set an ambitious target to process visas for foreigners within a maximum of 48 hours. This initiative, aimed at improving ease of entry into the country, was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a training session on E-visa for 162 immigration officers in Abuja on Friday.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the move is geared towards fostering economic participation, boosting tourism, and facilitating short-stay visas without compromising national security. He stated, “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.”
The minister further explained that the E-visa system will allow applicants to complete the visa process electronically, reducing the waiting period significantly. “The whole idea of the E-visa solution is where people will be able to apply and get their visas electronically. From application to approval, I think most of the time it should be within 24 hours or a maximum of 48 hours.”
Addressing the immigration officers at the training, Tunji-Ojo urged them to rise to the occasion, ensuring an efficient turnaround time for visa processing. “Because you’re going to be responsible for the turnaround in terms of user experience, we don’t want people to wait forever to get visas to Nigeria,” he added.
Earlier, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nana-Nandap, underscored the significance of the training exercise, noting that the selected officers had undergone thorough vetting. She assured that proper documentation and warehousing processes would be implemented to ensure smooth operations within the NIS framework.
The move to streamline visa processing aligns with the government’s broader efforts to attract foreign investors and visitors while maintaining a robust security framework.
