The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stated that the country’s recently implemented visa-on-arrival program is intended to attract foreign investment.
Mr Abdullahi Dalhatu, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport’s (MMIA) Controller of Immigration, made the announcement on Friday, October 88.
He said that the visa-on-arrival policy was designed to make travel easier, particularly for urgent business journeys, and to boost international trade.
The facility, he claims, is open to African and non-African residents who are not members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“VOA is a class of short visit visa issued at the point of entry and the facility is readily available to the frequently travelled high net worth investor”, he told Newsmen in an interview.
He went on to say that the service will make it easier for potential tourists who may not be able to secure standard visas through Nigerian embassies in their home countries, as well as those on urgent business trips and travels.
The controller explained that such travelers must apply for the VOA online using the NIS’s official website, emphasizing that the service is not a passport on arrival, as some Nigerians had previously misinterpreted.
According to Dalhatu, the application will be completed online, and all requirements must be met before a pre-approval is given to an applicant within 48 hours.
“ It is the pre-approval slip that the visitor would use to board a flight using his travel passport” he added.
Africans who are not members of ECOWAS have the option of applying for the facility before or after their arrival, he said, adding that non-African individuals who are not members of ECOWAS must also apply online and receive pre–approval before embarking on any voyage to the country.
” The service has created a ‘Special Desk’ in our office with a view to attend to such visitors on arrival.
“The personnel in charge of the desk are a group of qualified experts from the service who are readily available to attend to such cases”, Dalhatu added.
