The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to review the nation’s visa policy for easy accessibility.
The minister made this known during a Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Nigeria visa policy on Saturday in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo explained that though, striking a balance between easy access to visa and national security is very delicate, but if gotten right, it would no doubt lead to a healthy investment promotion and among others.
“You see, a seamless access to any country is key for investment promotion, job creation, foreign direct investment. In short is key to whatever a particular country wants to do or achieve to enable it progress.
“The logic is that everything is built on effective visa administration. So, we are here to really talk about it and to be able to streamline the process for better.
“Especially, in areas of short stay visa and even our other categories of visa to see how we can optimise them and make it more efficient in such a way that will be able to attract more investment.“
He added that the development would also open up the nation’s space for tourism, infrastructural development as well as creating a balance in terms of our national security architecture.
The minister said that the present administration’s resolve was to make the Nigeria’s visa policy the best in the world and that it would not rest on its oures until it is achieved.
“The renewed hope is about business unusual, it is about prioritising Nigeria by making sure that it is the best in the world and that is exactly what we are trying to achieve.
“It is one thing to have a policy, but it is another thing to be able to implement it.
“So, we are gathered here today, to deliberate on the need to use technology to reduce the waiting time to get a short stay visa, business visa, tourism as well as entertainment.
“And how easy is it going to be for them to have access to their application mechanism.
“Why must somebody need to travel from British Columbia in Canada all the way to Ottawa, just because you want a Nigerian visa.
“What are the reasons today people go to Qatar, UK and Singapore even more than the way people go to Europe; it is because there is easier access.“
According to him, Nigeria can also adopt the same method without necessarily jeopardising the national security of our country.
“So, creating the right framework and having that bench mark that will be competitive, comparable with the best in the world that is exactly what we aim to achieve.
`We want to assure Nigerians that this is not just a workshop, neither are we just here to talk, but to actualise it.
“We are determined to make sure that in the next couple of weeks, by the grace of God, the new implementation framework will be on ground.
“And people all over the world will start having easy access to the country. We want to welcome investment and people.
“Just last year, the number of foreign passengers that came to Nigeria whether Nigerians or non, was just less than two million people.
“That is unacceptable for a country of over 200 million people. It means that we are limiting investment, import of forex among other things.
“So, once we get the visa policy right, and we get the implementation framework perfect, then definitely the economic prosperity will come,”he stressed.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, said that the review had become imperative bearing in mind the importance of visa to the overall development of any country.
“We are here today to discuss the significance of our collective efforts in shaping the future of visa regulations and procedures that have a profound impact on individuals, businesses and the nation as a whole.
“As stakeholders you are expected to bring in your diverse perspectives, expertise and insight to bare for a robust visa policy for the country.
“The meeting present us with the valuable opportunity to reflect on the current state of the Nigerian visa policy, identifying areas of improvement, chart a new course towards greater efficiency, transparency and fairness in our visa system.”
She expressed optimism that at the end of the meeting, no doubt that they would have come up with a new visa policy framework that would be able to compete with other climes that got it right.