Investors To Get Visa On Arrival To Nigeria – FG
Mr. Muhammad Babandede, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service[/caption]
The Federal Government on Thursday announced the introduction of a liberalised online Visa on Arrival (VOA) facility for foreign investors willing to invest in the country.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Muhammad Babandede, who made the announcement said the measure was part of the resolution of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) aimed at attracting foreign investors to the country.
Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the sixth meeting of PEBEC in February approved a 60-day national action plan with the aim of aiding business in the country.
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The Council approved a national action plan to be implemented across its three priority areas – Entry and Exit of goods; Entry and Exit of people and Government Transparency and Procurement.
“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,” Babandede said.
“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 (two working days).”
He explained that the online VOA application and processing facility is a product of robust visa reforms regime intended to bring Nigeria in tandem with global best practices and attract Foreign Direct Investors and skilled professionals into the country.
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The controller-general said that the new process was designed to eliminate all unnecessary bureaucratic visa processing procedures in Nigerian Missions abroad.
He said it was also to serve the interests of would-be visitors from countries where Nigeria does not have a Mission.
He said that a dedicated e-mail address [email protected] had been deployed where visa applicants, their representatives or companies could forward their requests and details.
Babandede said that applicants were advised to use functional e-mail addresses where copies of approval letter shall be forwarded upon a successful process and payment.
‘’Applicants are, however, to note that successful payment online is not an approval and should not proceed to Nigeria until you have received “Visa on Arrival Approval letter” duly issued by the NIS Headquarters, Abuja,” he added.
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He said that a VOA desk had been opened at all international airports in the country where visas would be issued upon the presentation of all the necessary travel documents and evidence of visa payment.
The NIS boss was upbeat that the new measures will help attract investors to the country.
