The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced a liberalised online Visa on Arrival (VOA) facility to the public for foreign
investors and willing professionals desirous of coming to Nigeria, reports
ITRealms.
The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, according
to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Thursday, said that the measure
was part of the resolution of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment
Council (PEBEC) aimed at attracting foreign investors to the country.
“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. 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),” NIS boss said.
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.
Also, the controller-general said that the new process was
designed to eliminate all unnecessary bureaucratic visa processing procedures
in Nigerian Missions abroad. Stressing this would be of great help for
potential visitors from countries where Nigeria does not have a Mission.
He said that a dedicated e-mail address
oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng has been deployed where visa applicants, their
representatives or companies could forward their requests and details.
Advising applicants 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 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 expressed optimism that the VOA process and the
introduction of the harmonised arrival and departure cards would go a long way
in attracting investors to the country.
Nonye Dom with additional reports from NAN/GEE
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