The Nigerian government has announced plans to phase out its visa-on-arrival policy, citing security concerns and the need for a more data-driven immigration system.
Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the announcement on Friday at a graduation ceremony for 100 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), who completed specialized training on using Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to enhance national security.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that immigration decisions should be based on objective data rather than subjective assessments. “We cannot allow individuals to enter Nigeria without prior knowledge of their arrival. That is not the standard practice anywhere in the world,” he stated.
As part of the reforms, API systems will be introduced at land borders in addition to the five international airports where they are already operational.
The new system will require pre-arrival clearances from agencies such as Interpol and criminal record databases.
“We have noticed a trend where individuals fly out of the country and re-enter through land borders. This must be addressed,” the minister added.
Effective between March 1 and April 1, 2025, all immigration approvals will require real-time verification through global security databases.
“Security must be 100 percent accurate—99.9 percent is not good enough,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stressed, underscoring the administration’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian citizens and fulfilling international security obligations.
Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival policy was originally designed to facilitate business and tourism travel, allowing eligible foreign nationals to obtain entry approval upon arrival.
However, security experts have raised concerns over inadequate vetting, prompting the government to adopt a stricter pre-screening process.
“The revamped system will ensure that every traveler is properly screened before arriving in Nigeria,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo affirmed.
The minister urged the newly trained officers to apply their knowledge effectively, highlighting their role in strengthening border security.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, noted that the training was initiated following engagements with the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism at the Border Management and Identity Conference in Bangkok in December 2024.
Paola Pace from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) described the training as a step toward improving Nigeria’s border management and intelligence-sharing efforts.
Experts Robert Musgrave and Dennis Hands also commended the program’s impact on strengthening security operations. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduates by the Minister of Interior.
