Weeks after the Federal Government trained 162 operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on the effective implementation of the electronic visa (e-visa) procurement process for potential visitors to the country, the policy gets underway today. Amid kudos and knocks, ODITA SUNDAY reports that the new policy will help checkmate corruption in the visa issuance process among others.

The digital age has witnessed increased global revolution in several sectors, including the travel and trade industry. Of great impact, however, is the digitisation of processes and the attendant elimination of analogue approaches to services, which not only slowed things down but also created loopholes, facilitated sharp practices, and saddled them with bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The emergence of the electronic visa, simply known as an e-visa, an innovative solution in travel documentation, has contributed greatly to accelerating visa processes and eliminating corruption in many parts of the world.

It is also more efficient and convenient than the conventional approach, and guarantees even improved security.

As an online platform that eliminates physical paperwork, e-visa allows governments to manage the visa application processes of travellers more efficiently while also making it hassle-free for all concerned. Indeed, the impact of the right visa policy on security, investment promotion, employment opportunities, technological advancement, as well as economic growth and development of any nation cannot be overstressed.

This explains why many countries are consistently creative and competitive with their visa policies and programmes to reap the full benefits.

Before now, visa processes were cumbersome and often a major obstacle to some visitors to Nigeria, including investors. As of March this year, the Nigerian passport ranked 193rd globally on the VisaGuide Passport Index, which rates the passports of 199 countries and territories worldwide.

Holders of the Nigerian passport enjoy visa-free access to 28 countries and territories, e-visas for travel to 12 countries, and Visa On Arrival (VoA) in 16 countries, making it more convenient to explore international destinations.

A holder of a Nigerian passport also requires a valid visa to be admitted into 170 countries of the world.

The Nigerian Visa Policy of 2012, which was later reviewed in 2020, represents a holistic effort by the federal government, through the Nigerian Immigration Service and relevant stakeholders, to create a smooth visa regime. The Immigration Act 2015 and the Immigration Regulations 2017 have played key roles in moving Nigeria?s visa regime from restrictive and complicated entry formalities to being more friendly.

Because of the partial success recorded, there was a need to complete the implementation and update the process to reflect current global best practices, hence the commencement of the training of 162 immigration officers to handle the new e-visa application initiative, which gets underway today.

At the flag-off of the training, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who presided over, reiterated the government?s commitment to building a more efficient and result-driven immigration system.

He also expressed the need to open Nigerian borders to the global community for business and tourism.

The minister hinted that the training was part of a broader effort to ensure that visa applications were processed between 24 and 48 hours.

During the programme, enlisted officers underwent intensive training on electronic visa applications to streamline the process for foreigners visiting Nigeria.

The minister stressed that the initiative was to enable applicants to secure visas electronically in two days.

According to the 2024 report of the Visa Openness Index in Africa, Nigeria ranks 6th after Ghana on the list of countries with more visa openness. Countries that are faring very well on the list are Benin Republic, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Rwanda, which is ranked No. 1 in the index.

To Tunji-Ojo: ?Nigeria is a serious country led by a serious president that is poised towards disrupting the normal, and creating the unusual. An efficient and vibrant NIS is possible and the time for the actualisation of the e-visa is now. It is either we get it now, or we forget about it,? he said.

The minister continued: ?To come to Nigeria should not be difficult once the conditions are met. We are very hospitable people, and we want to see people come to Nigeria. As they are coming, let us continue to build an economy that will encourage more people to come. The NIS has a key role to play in the successful implementation of the Ease of Doing Business. It also has a role to play in encouraging inbound tourists and enhancing the country?s investment opportunities.?

But as lofty as Tunji-Ojo?s idea appears, there are serious concerns that perennial issues like worsening insecurity, poor data management, ineffective Internet services, and, of course, the hydra-headed monster called corruption may continue to defy prescribed cure.

Consequently, the e-visa initiative has received both commendations and knocks, especially from retired top brass of the service. While some believe that it was a good initiative to pursue, others expressed scepticism, especially regarding its likely implications for Nigerians who enjoy the privilege of VoA in several countries.

They noted that while e-visas have the potential to reshape international travel, thoughtful consideration is needed to avoid disrupting the vital connections that make global cooperation and movement possible.

Since visa policies often work on a reciprocal basis, any changes in visa requirements could mean that qualified Nigerians will no longer benefit from the simplicity of VoA in certain destinations.

?For many Nigerian passport holders, the VoA system has been a sign of international cooperation and reciprocity. However, if these new policies take hold, will Nigerians be removed from the VoA list in countries where they once enjoyed this privilege? A retired immigration officer, who pleaded anonymity, asked.

He added: ?Governments must carefully navigate these changes as any shift in visa policy could have unintended consequences on the ease with which travellers from one country can move freely to another.

?The interior minister must address these underlying issues, particularly the need to preserve the benefits of reciprocal visa arrangements. There must be a careful balance between simplifying the visa process and ensuring that countries can continue to enjoy the mutual benefits of easy international travel.?

Sharing his perspectives, a retired immigration officer, Tams Ngeri, lauded the federal government for the e-visa policy, describing it as a good step in the right direction and an initiative capable of engendering sustainable economic growth and development, if managed properly.

?The new policy is simply liberalising Nigeria?s visas and a complete about-face or breakaway from the bottlenecks that characterised the old visa regime. A positive correlation exists between secure, easier, and faster visa application processes and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in civilised climes, often leading to economic growth. With an open visa policy, Nigeria stands to attract tourists and foreign investors.

?But beyond the potential of boosting FDI if efficiently implemented, facts on the ground suggest that the policy may be dead on arrival because certain economic boosters or factors must either be put in place, or addressed internally, before dwelling on a liberalised visa policy. This includes addressing the systemic, hydra-headed monster called corruption, which has percolated all levels of government, and which may also not allow the new visa policy to thrive.

?What about the perennial insecurity occasioned by banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism? Multiple taxation, power instability, and fluctuating foreign exchange rates are also challenges. Who will invest in an unstable economy in the face of all these problems? The policy is good, but the foundation on which it stands is faulty,? he added.

But the spokesman of the NIS, Mr. A. S Akinlabi, was quick to dismiss these concerns while stressing that the e-visa is still a work in progress.

He explained that the VoA and e-visa were all government policies that would end up improving the situation on the ground, hence cannot be rubbished by naysayers.

?So, I can assure you that all is being done is in a bid to improve our services and enhance our operations,? Akinlabi stated.

While also bearing his mind on the development, the President of Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), Dr. Ajibola Abayomi, agreed with many that some concerns raised by stakeholders were valid, while dismissing the initiative entirely would be premature and potentially counterproductive.

On claims by some retired immigration officers that the policy was potentially ?dead on arrival,? Abayomi acknowledged that a visa liberalisation policy cannot succeed in isolation, adding that such initiatives require a strong ecosystem that includes infrastructure development, effective inter-agency coordination, and national stability.

?The e-visa policy is not dead on arrival, but it will require committed reform and strategic implementation to succeed,? he said, adding: ?With the right infrastructure, political will, and institutional backing, it can become a powerful tool to drive national growth and reshape how the world engages with Nigeria.?

He expressed optimism in the current administration?s direction, stating that despite public scepticism, the government remains on the right course, even as he stressed the need for significant investment in digital infrastructure.

According to him, robust IT systems and fool-proof cybersecurity arrangements are essential to manage visa applications, verify documents, and curb fraudulent activities. Without these, the efficiency and credibility of the e-visa process could be compromised.

While explaining that a liberalised visa regime may lead to increased movement across borders, he stressed that without solid screening and monitoring systems, the policy could be vulnerable to exploitation by criminals, including terrorists.

While also enumerating how simplified e-visa processes have spurred growth in the tourism sector and generally benefited countries like Rwanda and Kenya, he warned that frequent policy reversals or socio-political instability could also deter the growth that the policy is meant to encourage. (The Guardian)

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