The Namibian High commission in Nigeria has commissioned a new visa processing office in Lagos to easy the process of accessing the commission by travellers in the city.
The new office which is opened in partnership with the country’s national carrier, Air Namibia is geared towards deepening the bilateral relations between the South African country and Nigeria.
Speaking at the commissioning of the office in Ikeja, Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E Humphaey Geiseb, noted that over 60 percent of air travellers to the country live in Lagos.
He stated that the country is positioning itself as a gateway to the more than 240 million people in the broader Southern African Market with the expansion of the port of Walvis Bay adding that the country enjoys one of the most stable, peaceful political environments in Africa.
Mr Geiseb urged the Nigerian business investors and tourists to take advantage of the country’s rich tourist attractions, and conducive economic environment to explore the Namibia. He added that the primary infrastructure in Namibia is well developed and modern, stating that the country’s economy is mostly driven by export.
He said: “Based on enquiries and research, we resolved to open a Namibian Visa Processing desk in Lagos in partnership with Air Namibia, as over 60% of travelers to Namibia reside in Lagos and surrounding states.
“Namibia imports a higher number of consumer goods and most of its primary resources are exported, largely unprocessed. Opportunities exist to introduce new consumer goods and manufacturing investment for both local and international markets.
“Our decision to open a visa processing centre in Lagos in partnership with Air Namibia is a strategic move aimed at easing the burden of having to travel to Abuja before getting a visa thereby further boosting diplomatic ties and trade between Nigeria and Namibia and offering choices and easy access to our highly esteemed visitors and would-be investors,” he said.
Speaking further, the high commissioner said that in an effort to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and protect the integrity of the high commission, a team of highly professional staff have been trained extensively and charged with the responsibility of offering the same level of visa processing services as done at the embassy in Abuja within the a reasonable time frame.
by Friday Nwosu
