World News

US to extend tourist visa validity for Nigerians to five years – Federal Government

No Comments

The federal government says it has entered into an agreement with the United States on an extension of tourist visa validity for both countries to five years.

Sola Fasure, spokesperson to minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the federal government said the new policy applies to tourist visas, as well as visas for diplomats and government officials. 

The new policy is as a result of bilateral consular agreements between Nigeria and the US, and is expected to take effect from March 1.

The statement read;

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the United States of America with effect from 1st March, 2023.

“The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, gave the directive following the approval for the implementation of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the governments of Nigeria and the United States of America.

“The agreements amongst others include: The reciprocity of five (5) year tourist visa validity for American citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; and extension of visa validity to three (3) years for diplomats and government officials between the citizens of Nigeria and the United States of America.

“Consequently, the Minister of Interior has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to start the implementation of the policy from 1st March 2023.

“Nigerians will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari launched the new Nigeria Visa Policy (NPV) in 2020, which amongst other things promotes tourism. Tourist Visa falls under the Short Visit Visa (F5A) category. This policy is in line with Mr. President’s desire to boost cultural exchange and business between both nations.

“As part of the Bilateral Agreement, the United States of America will implement a similar policy for Nigerians wishing to travel on Tourist Visas to the United States and for our diplomats and officials visiting the country.

“The United States will thus extend Tourist Visa Validity for Nigerian citizens to five (5) years.”

World News

Ethiopian Airlines will no longer issue visas on arrival to Nigerian citizens

No Comments

Ethiopian Airlines has said it will no longer issue visas on arrival to Nigerian citizens and those of other African countries.

According to a document sent by the airlines and made available to The PUNCH, the aviation company stated as thus,

“Please be informed that effective immediately, no more visa on arrival for Nigerian Citizens.

”The circular explained that “passengers are to obtain their visa at the Ethiopian embassy in Abuja before travelling.”

It was earlier reported that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed that Ethiopian Airlines emerged a core investor in the Nigerian National Carrier, Nigeria Air, following a bid.

Sirika, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, said Ethiopian Airlines won the bid with a consortium and would have 95 controlling shares in the airline.

Speaking on the latest developments, an expert in the industry, Olumide Ohunayo, noted that Ethiopia’s decision was not in fair interest of its partnership process with Nigeria.

“I doubt if Ethiopia has given us some respect. Here is an airline that is trying to partner us as a national carrier, who already has about three points of entry into the country using the Togolese national carrier.”

Politics

To curb insecurity, Benue CAN urges govt to stop Visa on Arrival policy

No Comments

The Venue State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the Visa on Arrival Policy.

This call was contained in a statement issued by the Benue CAN chaiman, Rev. Akpen Leva, during a media briefing in Makurdi, Benue State, on Friday, February 26.

The CAN chairman stated that herdsmen from countries like Chad, Mali, Niger, Cameroun, and Burkina Faso have continued to troop into Nigeria and are the ones carrying highly sophisticated weapons and killing Nigerians on their ancestral land.

Furthermore, Leva noted that Nigerian Fulani was not known for violence, but for carrying sticks in their business of animal husbandry.

“We are worried by this ugly situation and we call on the President to without further delay stop the policy of Visa on Arrival to enable security agencies to check the influx of militia herdsmen,” said the CAN chairman.

The Benue CAN chairman also called on President Buhari to openly condemn the killing by herdsmen.

“We have come to a level where anything that affect other Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria, the presidency reacts with immediate alacrity, but when other Nigerians are crying, it does not worry the presidency,” he said.

He called on the federal government to enforce open grazing law and compel all those involved in animal husbandry to ranch their cattle to avoid clashes between farmers and herders.

On the recent call by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for the creation of herdsmen commission, Rev. Leva said it is not relevant as the commission will not provide the solution to the problem of insecurity but will rather empower herdsmen to continue to attack farming communities in the country.

Business

UK reopens visa application centres in Nigeria

No Comments

The United Kingdom High Commission has announced the reopening of its visa application centres in Nigeria.

This is coming barely one week after it shut down its visa application centres in Victoria Island, Abuja and Lagos over the crisis arising from #EndSARS protests in the country.

The UK made this known in a statement on its Twitter.

It noted, however, that its centres would not open on Thursday due to the public holiday in Nigeria for Maolud Nabbiyy.

The notice was titled ‘update on UK visa application centres in Nigeria’.

Part of the notice read, “Our TLS contact visa application centres are now open in Nigeria. Following the recent closures, we are working hard to process all outstanding applications.

“We thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Please note Thursday, October 29, is a public holiday in Nigeria and our Visa application centres will be closed.”

Meanwhile, a judicial panel in Lagos on Tuesday began an inquiry into the shooting of peaceful protesters last week and broader police brutality that had sparked demonstrations and unrest.

The state had been rocked by violence since demonstrators were gunned down in the economic hub on October 20, sparking international outrage and rioting.

Amnesty International says 12 people were shot dead by the police and army at two locations, in assaults shared widely on social media.

The #EndSARS protests in the state drew support from celebrities around the globe and turned into one of the biggest challenges to the governing elite in years. 

Overall, Amnesty International says 56 people have died nationwide since the demonstrations began. 

The situation has calmed in Lagos since days of rioting but looting and violence rumbles on in pockets around the country.

World News

THIS HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN

No Comments

Many killed and wounded in Afghanistan visa stampede

At least 11 women have been killed and many more injured in a stampede in a stadium in Afghanistan where people were applying for visas, officials say.

The incident happened after “thousands of people” gathered to request permits to Pakistan, a local spokesman said. The crowd had been redirected to a sports stadium instead of the usual visa centre in the city of Jalalabad.

Visa applications to Pakistan have just resumed after a seven-month pause due to the pandemic.

“The visa applicants jostled to secure their token from the consulate officials,” an official in Jalalabad said.

“The crowd got out of control, leading to a stampede.”

Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident and that his country was “engaged with Afghan authorities for better facilitation of visa applicants”.

In the conservative Muslim society of Afghanistan, it is common that women and men queue separately.

It is thought a number of other women and elderly people have also been injured.

Many Afghans travel each year to neighbouring Pakistan to visit relatives, seek medical treatment, find jobs or escape the ongoing violence in their own country.

Expecting a large number of applicants after the long pause of the visa service, the Pakistani consulate in the eastern province of of Nangarhar, directed the crowd to a nearby football stadium.

“Unfortunately this morning tens of thousands of people had come to the football stadium which led to the tragic incident,” the provincial governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told news agency.

Lifestyle

UAE will commence issuance of visas effective October 8th – Hadi Sirika

No Comments

Senator Sirika Hadi, the Minister for Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has stated that issuance of visas by the United Arab Emirates(UAE) will commence on Thursday, October 8th, 2020.

The prerequisite for traveling includes a return ticket and hotel bookings. Others are PCR test which must be negative prior to flight departure and a valid health insurance that can be paid via a travel agency or airlines.

See below the communication he released via his Twitter handle

Nigerians can now start planning their much awaited vacations and business trips.

Close Menu

Privacy Policy