The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue the visa-on-arrival policy, replacing it with a more structured documentation system for incoming travelers.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel. He emphasized the importance of proper documentation for all visitors entering the country.
The visa-on-arrival policy, introduced in 2020 under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, allowed short-stay visas to be issued at entry points. However, Tunji-Ojo stated that the government would implement landing and exit cards, which travelers must complete before arrival.
He underscored the need for an integrated immigration data system, ensuring that all migration-related decisions align with real-time security clearances from Interpol, the criminal records system, and other background-checking agencies.
“Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 percent correct. You just have to be 100 percent,” Tunji-Ojo said. “We believe it is better to make decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity.”
The minister further criticized the visa-on-arrival policy, arguing that it lacks proper security measures.
“I don’t expect you to just come into my country without me knowing beforehand. No, it is never done anywhere,” he said.
He added that the current manual landing and exit card system would be digitized to enhance efficiency.
“We are not going to be doing that anymore. This is 2025, not 1825. Technology must take its place,” he concluded.
