LAGOS, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 – No fewer than 38,000 passengers including potential investors have been processes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos under the Visa On Arrival scheme and Ease of Doing Business policy rolled out by government in the last one year sources close the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) has revealed
Investigations by The Nation revealed that the bulk of the passengers are investors and tourists seeking business opportunities in the country.
An immigration source told The Nation that many investors are latching on the The immigration source said investment is booming in the country as more and more investors are finding their way to the West African country to trade and do other forms of businesses investing both funds, technology.
According to her, the over 38,000 came in from all over the world but there were frequent influx from countries including the United States, China, Britain, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and a host of others.
She said, “The visa on arrival is seriously helping and It is a good omen for this country. The Nigeria Immigration Services has done something great and this has helped access of investment as people will make their application and come in and pay for it, instead of going to the embassy.”
On the duration of the Visa, she explained that the VOA, has always been a duration of one month, stating that once approval was granted by the Comptroller General, the approval has a two-week validity.
“You only need approval from the Comptroller General to get the VOA. in fact, once the approval is given, it has a validity of two weeks, if not used within that time, you start the process of re applying for approval. However, when you have approval and everything is done the duration of the visa is one month. It is also renewable,” she told our reporter.
She also said that enlightenment is still ongoing for those that seek greener pastures by hook or crook, stating that the trend is reducing but that the service at all borders are trying to dissuade young ones from taking that route.
“Human trafficking has reduced, not only at the airport but at other border posts. We cannot say it is completely eradicated but we are doing all we can to make sure we reduce it.”
