Alexander Davis

The Federal Government has launched a New Visa Policy (NVP) to boost the Nigerian economy and allow travellers to visit the country without visas, and only commence the process of obtaining visa upon arrival into the country.

Mr. Sunday James, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) who disclosed this in a statement to News Agency of Nigeria Tuesday, February 4, in Abuja, FCT, said the New Visa Policy broadened the scope of visa obtainment in the country from the hitherto six categories to 79.

Mr. James said that the enhanced visa policy in Nigeria, one of Africa鈥檚 key economies, comes on the back of the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The NIS PRO added that it was a treaty seeking to establish a continent-wide, marketplace with increased trade and freer movement among its major economic powers.

鈥淭he objective of the reforms that have birthed NVP 2020 is to strengthen Nigeria鈥檚 position as a key economy in Africa by attracting more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.

鈥淭his would in turn provide jobs for the people and lift Nigeria鈥檚 teeming population out of poverty in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years,鈥� he stated.

According to him, the NVP 2020 is also designed to support the attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017 -2020).

It 鈥渋s a pathway to achieving the Security, Economy and Transparency (SET) Agenda of the present Administration,鈥� James said.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, at the launch of the NVP 2020, stated that its operation was cardinal to the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The new visa regime is expected to boost economic activities in the areas of tourism, aviation, entertainment, commerce, and other areas where Nigeria has comparative advantage over other African countries, Aregbesola said.

He added that it also presents Nigeria with the opportunity to apply the principle of reciprocity with its visa policy in the nation鈥檚 bilateral and multilateral relations.

鈥淭he NVP 2020 introduces special visas for Nigerians in the Diaspora who either by birth, marriage or nationalisation, have assumed dual citizenship.

鈥淪uch category of Nigerians will now be able to make use of the passports of their adopted countries to visit Nigeria without the need for short stay visa,鈥� he said.

The Minister expressed the commitment of the federal government to the implementation of the NPV 2020 in view of its supervisory role on the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

He assured that the NIS would adhere to the published conditions of issuance of visas in a professional, timely and transparent manner.

Mr. Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller-General, NIS, also spoke on the objectives, benefits and classes, with emphasis on the control aspect without compromising National security.

Babandede said that the new NVP presented a good opportunity for Nigeria to be a major consideration for investment in Africa and hosting of international events particularly the ones scheduled to hold in Africa.

鈥淪ome of the features of NVP 2020 include, Visa on Arrival for African Union nationals, increase in the classes of visas from 6 to 79, creation of visa codes for all classes of visa and introduction of e-visas.

鈥淭he implementation of the NPV 2020 will require collaboration with several MDAs involved in diplomacy, trade, investment, education, tourism, manufacturing, monetary policies, security, intelligence and many more.

鈥淭he new visa policy is expected to take Nigeria some steps up in the Africa Visa Openness Report published annually by the African Development Bank (AfDB) which would be a further boost on the global Ease of doing business league table,鈥� Babandede stated.