The Federal Government has announced plans to cancel the visa-on-arrival policy for visitors entering Nigeria.
Instead, the government will introduce landing and exit cards, which visitors must complete online before arriving in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on Friday during the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja. The training is part of efforts to improve the documentation and monitoring of visitors entering Nigeria.
The visa-on-arrival policy was introduced in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as a short-stay visa issued at the point of entry. However, Tunji-Ojo stated that the policy is no longer effective and poses security risks.
“Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 percent correct. You just have to be 100 percent. We believe that it is better for us to take decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity,” the minister said.
He explained that the new system will require visitors to pre-fill landing and exit cards online before traveling to Nigeria. This will allow the government to conduct thorough background checks on visitors in real-time, using data from Interpol, criminal records systems, and other security agencies.
“I don’t expect you to just come into my country without me knowing that you are coming into my country. No, it is never done anywhere,” Tunji-Ojo emphasized.
The minister also highlighted the need to modernize the immigration process, stating, “We do it now, but it is manual. We are not going to be doing that anymore. This is 2025. This is not 1825. So, technology must take its place.”
The new system aims to enhance national security by ensuring that all visitors are properly vetted before entering Nigeria. It will also streamline the immigration process, making it more efficient and transparent.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the move as a step toward improved security, while others express concerns about the potential impact on tourism and business travel.
The Federal Government has assured that the new system will be implemented smoothly, with adequate support from the Nigeria Immigration Service and other relevant agencies. Further details about the landing and exit card process are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
