By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has dismissed reports making the rounds that the federal government has scrapped the Visa-On-Arrival policy.
Tunji-Ojo addressed the concerns over the purported cancellation of the policy, on Tuesday, clarifying that the process has been upgraded, not cancelled, as widely reported.
The minister made this clarification after a closed-door meeting with a delegation from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the PEBEC Director-General, Princess Zahrah Audu, in Abuja.
Zahrah explained that the meeting aimed to address concerns and clarify the government’s stance on the VOA initiative.
She also stated that the development aligns with PEBEC’s efforts to simplify procedures and reduce bureaucratic constraints on doing business in Nigeria.
The alleged cancellation of the VOA policy has generated mixed reactions among investors and the international community in recent days.
According to the minister, new regulations will require pre-arrival clearance from Interpol, criminal record systems, and other background-check agencies in real time.
He said: “The Visa-on-Arrival process is not being scrapped. Rather, it has been upgraded to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Travellers will still be able to apply online for short-stay visas, with approvals granted within 24 to 48 hours.
“Once approved, the visa will be sent to the applicant’s email, eliminating the need for a physical sticker upon arrival. This enhanced system aims to cut out inefficiencies, allowing Nigeria to better automate and control the inflow of travellers.
“With this upgrade, the country takes another step towards improving its business environment and attracting foreign investment. This upgrade builds upon the existing online approval system, streamlining the process and enabling travellers to receive their approvals ahead of time.”
