The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced an online system aimed at easing the visa application and collection process for business people intending to visit the country. The new facility will make it possible for them to apply for visas online and obtain them upon arrival 48 hours later.
Comptroller General of the NIS, Mohammed Babandede, unveiled the visa on arrival system on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, the new system was part of the government’s push to “attract foreign high net worth investors and professionals to the country.”
“As a critical member of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the NIS has automated its visa application and processing services at all entry points,” he explained. “This is to ensure that all genuine requests for Visa on Arrival facility from any part of the world are processed and issued within 48 hours.”
Mr. Babandede further disclosed that visa applicants, their representatives or companies could send their requests and details to oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng. He, however, cautioned travellers against visiting Nigeria without having received a Visa on Arrival approval letter from the NIS.
The Nigerian government has recently ramped up efforts to make it easier for foreign visitors to do business in the country. Earlier this month, it introduced harmonized departure/arrival cards to replace the multiple cards which travellers had previously been required to fill. The drive to make the visa application procedure easier is said to form part of a wider campaign to make Nigeria more investor friendly.