FG Ignores Senate as NIS Unveils Visa on Arrival Application Details

Despite the objections raised by the Senate about its visa-on-arrival policy for Africans, the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS has released application details for its new Visa-on-Arrival policy for Africans and non-Africans.

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently announced the policy for Africans travelling to Nigeria, explaining that it will “bring down barriers that have hindered the free movement of our people within the continent”.

The Senate, on December 17, 2019 summoned the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbosola, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, to brief them on the policy.

The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti North, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, when he drew the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the executive did not carry the legislature along before coming up with the policy. Adetunmbi is also the chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning.

In his remarks after the debate, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, threw the matter up for vote and a majority of the senators voted against the policy.

But in a notice posted on the website Nigeria Immigration Service, the agency said “This is to notify the General Public that Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out a new Visa on Arrival Application Process for all Business Travelers and African Union (AU) countries, except for ECOWAS member countries”.

Aside from other details which are available on the website, the Service added that the visa on arrival is available to “Frequently travelled High Net Worth Investors with business interest in Nigeria, and Citizens of African countries.”

Documents necessary during the application process include: an original passport photograph, an introduction or application letter addressed to “The Comptroller General of Immigration, NIS HQ, Abuja, stating their name, nationality, passport number, purpose of visit, proposed date of visit and port of entry, flight itinerary, and address in Nigeria or hotel reservation.”

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