The Nigeria Federal Government has officially launched the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP)2020.The Visa Policy which is coming on the heels of the signing of the African Continental Free trade agreement a treaty seeking to establish a continent-wide market place with increased trade and freer movement among its major Economic powers, has as its objective in strengthening Nigeria’s Position as a key economy in Africa by attracting more foreign direct investment into the country’s economy which will, in turn, provide jobs.
Briefing StateHouse Correspondents after the launch at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja, Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said operation of the new Visa Policy is cardinal to the ease of doing business in Nigeria and will further enhance The Nations security architecture and open Nigeria to more foreign business.
He added that the new visa policy which is also part of the economic recovery and growth plan (2017-2020) will boost Tourism, Aviation, entertainment, commerce and other areas where Nigeria has a comparative advantage over other African Countries.
According to the interior minister, the New Visa Policy will also, present Nigeria with the opportunity to apply the principle of reciprocity with her visa policy in the Nation’s Bilateral and Multilateral Relations.
The policy also makes it possible for Nigerians in Diaspora with dual citizenship to be able to make use of the Passport of their adopted countries to visit Nigeria without the need for a short stay Visa.
Aregbesola assured Nigerians that the new visa Policy will not compromise National security in any way as adequate control measures have been provided before and after entry into the country.
PRESS RELEASE
FG LAUNCHES NEW VISA POLICY: Creates new visa categories for Ease of Doing Business
The
Federal Government has officially launched the Nigerian Visa Policy
(NVP) 2020. This enhanced visa policy by Nigeria, one of Africa’s key
economies and demography comes on the back of the signing of the
African Continental Free Trade Agreement, a treaty seeking to establish a
continent-wide marketplace with increased trade and freer movement
among its major economic powers.
The objective of the reforms that have
birthed NVP 2020 is to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a key economy in
Africa by attracting more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the
country’s economy which would, in turn, provide jobs for the people and
lift Nigeria’s teeming population out of poverty in line with the vision
of President Muhammadu Buhari to take 100million Nigerians out of
poverty in the next 10 years.
NVP 2020 is also designed to support
the attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017 -2020)
and is a pathway to achieving the Security, Economy, and Transparency
(SET) Agenda of the present Administration.
The Minister of
Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola while speaking at the launch of the NVP
2020 at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday 4th February 2020, stated
that its operation is cardinal to the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.
The new visa regime is expected to boost economic activities in the
areas of tourism, aviation, entertainment, commerce, and other areas
where Nigeria has a comparative advantage over other African countries. It
also presents Nigeria with the opportunity to apply the principle of
reciprocity with her visa policy in the nation’s bilateral and
multilateral relations.
“The NVP 2020 introduces special visas for
Nigerians in the diaspora who either by birth, marriage or nationalization
have assumed dual citizenship. Such category of Nigerians will now be
able to make use of the passports of their adopted countries to visit
Nigeria without the need for short-stay visa”, he said. The Minister
expressed the commitment of his Ministry to the implementation of the
NPV 2020 in view of its supervisory role on the Nigeria Immigration
Service (NIS).
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola assured that the NIS would
adhere to the published conditions of the issuance of visas in a
professional, timely and transparent manner. He assured that NIS would
invest heavily in the training of the officers and men that will be
charged with the responsibility of processing visas in all our visa
issuing centers and passport control at our points of entry. The
Minister emphasized that NIS would also work with all stakeholders
within and outside Nigeria to ensure that the policy is not abused and
the security of Nigeria and indeed other countries is not compromised.
“The
implementation of the NVP 2020 will not compromise national security as
adequate control measures have been provided both before and after
entry into Nigeria”, the Minister stressed. While encouraging Nigerians
in Diaspora to respect the provisions of the immigration laws of their
new countries as well as those of Nigeria, the Minister congratulated
the Nigeria Immigration Service for the landmark policy and also invited
all prospective visitors, investors, and residents to a new and
a refreshing experience in Nigeria and with Nigeria Immigration Service.
“The
implementation of the NPV2020 will require collaboration with several
MDAs involved in diplomacy, trade, investment, education, tourism,
manufacturing, monetary policies, security, intelligence and many more”,
Minister reiterated.
Some of the features of NVP 2020
include, Visa On Arrival for African Union nationals, increase in the
classes of visas from 6 to 75, creation of visa codes for all classes of
visa and introduction of e-visas.
The benefits of the new NVP
2020 are many. It presents a good opportunity for Nigeria to be a major consideration for investment in Africa and hosting of international events particularly the ones scheduled to hold in Africa. It also serves as a major boost for Nigeria’s aviation, entertainment and tourism industries.
The new visa policy is expected to take Nigeria some
steps up in the Africa Visa Openness Report published annually by the
African Development Bank (AfDB) which would be a further boost on the
global Ease Of Doing Business league table.
Mrs. Grace Njoku
Chief Information Officer
For: Director, Press and Public Relations
Source: http://nuj-europe-chapter.blogspot.com/2020/02/fg-launches-new-visa-policy-creates-new.html
