The Federal
Government of Nigeria may have concluded plans to sign visa-free pact with
eight African countries, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Geoffrey Onyeama, reports ITRealms.
The Minister revealed
this at a press conference in Abuja, Tuesday, saying the plan would promote
economic partnership on the continent, even though he did not disclose these
countries yet.
“Africa is the
centerpiece of our foreign policy but it is a paradox that as a Nigerian, you
cannot go to an African country without a visa unlike what is obtainable in
Western Europe,” he lamented.
Onyeama also said
Nigeria was trying to come up with an initiative, like the one in Western
Europe where one could enter any sister country without a visa, pointing out
that the new idea should bring about an upsurge in economic activities.
“We want to start
with about eight countries or see if they come up as a group of eight
countries. At the presidential level, they agreed to that, and signed up to
free movement. If we can achieve that within a year, then other countries may
want to join and we believe that this is a better way to go than institutional
ECOWAS etc, as countries take so long to ratify agreements,” he said.
The minister
further said that the ministry was working with the immigration to see rise in
the number of visa issued to businessmen and investors as well as reduce the
time it took to register companies.
Okoli Vincent/GEE
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