Starting May 1, Nigeria will roll out a free electronic visa system along with digital landing and exit cards as part of a broader effort to modernize its immigration process and tighten border security.
According to Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, the initiative aims to streamline international travel while enhancing surveillance and data collection across entry points.
According to punchng.com, Keyamo made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while meeting with a team led by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to him, the e-visa system will allow people to apply for Nigerian visas online and upload all needed documents without visiting any office.
He also said that the usual paper landing and exit cards would now be filled out online before travellers arrive in Nigeria.
“What we are doing here today reflects this government’s commitment to cooperation between ministries with overlapping mandates.
“Today is another example of inter-ministerial collaboration. This specifically concerns the introduction of the e-visa system,” he said.
Keyamo explained that full details of the programme would be shared by Tunji-Ojo and noted that agencies like Immigration, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria would support the project.
He added that there’s no conflict over the plan since it mostly falls under the Interior Ministry’s duties.
Speaking at the meeting, Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo said the digital visa and landing card systems would start on May 1.
He stressed that the e-visa would be free and aimed at making it easier for people to visit Nigeria while ensuring better national security.
Tunji-Ojo also explained that the NCAA would be in charge of managing the landing and exit cards, which all travellers must complete online before flying into Nigeria.
“Coordinating and issuing regulations to airlines is naturally the NCAA’s responsibility,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.
He revealed that there is already a central visa approval centre at the Immigration headquarters, with trained officers who use advanced tools, including global criminal record checks.
“Better background checks will be conducted for travellers entering Nigeria. We aim to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a transparent visa process.”
“Our goal is to open Nigeria’s borders without compromising security. Both the Interior and Aviation ministries have critical roles in this,” he added.
