By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE FEDERAL Government has announced it is set to abolish the visa-on-arrival policy, citing security concerns and the need for a more robust immigration system.
The policy, introduced in 2020, allowed travellers to obtain a short-stay visa at the point of entry.
However, authorities say the system has been exploited by individuals with criminal intent, bypassing essential security checks.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, disclosed the plan in Abuja on Friday during the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel.
He explained that the government will replace the visa-on-arrival scheme with an automated landing and exit card system.
Under the new arrangement, visitors must pre-fill their information before arriving in Nigeria, ensuring a thorough vetting process before entry.
The minister emphasised that immigration control must prioritise national security.
He stated that approvals will now be integrated with Interpol databases, criminal records systems, and real-time background checks.
“Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 percent correct. You just have to be 100 percent,” he said.
“The visa-on-arrival system does not work because it allows individuals to enter the country without prior screening. That is unacceptable.”
Tunji-Ojo criticised the current manual system, insisting that technological advancements must replace outdated methods.
“We are in 2025, not 1825. Technology must take its place. The landing card system, once digitised, will link directly with visa applications, passports, and global security databases,” he said.
The minister warned that the new policy aims to prevent scenarios where foreigners enter Nigeria, disappear, and become untraceable.
“A system where immigration officials cannot instantly determine the number of foreigners entering Nigeria is unacceptable. A system where individuals exploit loopholes to stay indefinitely without proper documentation will no longer be tolerated.”
The planned reforms will commence between March 1 and April 1. The Ministry of Interior will integrate visa processing with international security frameworks, ensuring stricter checks before approvals are granted.
“We do not want foreign attachés approving and issuing visas. That will end. Nigeria cannot be a destination for wanted criminals.
This country is not and will never be a safe haven for criminal elements,” Tunji-Ojo asserted.
The decision to scrap the visa-on-arrival policy underscores the government’s renewed commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and preventing abuses of the immigration system.
