A new visa policy has just been approved by the federal government. In keeping with global best practices, it is intended to utilise the process to maximise human material and financial capital flow to stimulate socio-economic development.Due to the porous nature of the nation's borders, as well as its now injurious role of big brother in Africa, previous visa policies were generally observed more in the breach, giving rise to an unauthorised influx of foreigners some of whom are undesirable elements with security implications.
In this new visa regime, the government, it is hoped, intends to attract foreign direct investments; boost tourism; attract highly skilled migrant workers, innovators and entrepreneurs; facilitate technological and industrial growth; generate employment opportunities and keep our national boundaries more secure.
In reviewing the visa policy, the government might have been reacting to the inherent frustrations in the old policy, which classifications and regulatory procedures still carried with them vestiges of our colonial heritage with its discriminatory tendencies, and gave rise to illegalities that deprived the nation some of the benefits it ought to have derived from it. Then, there were separate visas for Commonwealth citizens and non-Commonwealth citizens. Obviously, some of the terms and conditions were stringent and repulsive to prospective, genuine visitors including investors.
The high point of this visa regime is that it does away with these discriminatory tendencies with focus only on socio-economic interest of the country. In addition, it categorises visitors in terms of short time visitors with multiple entries, temporary residents, or permanent residents, even as it makes it possible for the document to be issued at entry ports to visitors from countries where there is no Nigerian mission. Another feature of the new policy is that the size of capital importation will determine the level of quota to be granted to prospective foreign investors as well as the number of Nigerian employees.
This new visa regime should attract the commendation of right-thinking Nigerians and even well-intentioned foreigners. But we regret to point out that Nigeria has never lacked the capacity to formulate classy policies. The problem has always been in the implementation process. Old habits, it is said, die hard. With the level of corruption in the polity, some elements may still be inclined to attempt to circumvent it to their own advantage. They may succeed if the relevant agencies decide to adopt a habit of business as usual.
For it to be effective, it is pertinent to urge an inter-agency collaboration which will make the border areas be manned well enough to discourage any tendency toward illegal entry. The implementing agencies should also mount a public enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike on the new visa regime
In reviewing the visa policy, the government might have been reacting to the inherent frustrations in the old policy, which classifications and regulatory procedures still carried with them vestiges of our colonial heritage with its discriminatory tendencies, and gave rise to illegalities that deprived the nation some of the benefits it ought to have derived from it. Then, there were separate visas for Commonwealth citizens and non-Commonwealth citizens. Obviously, some of the terms and conditions were stringent and repulsive to prospective, genuine visitors including investors.
The high point of this visa regime is that it does away with these discriminatory tendencies with focus only on socio-economic interest of the country. In addition, it categorises visitors in terms of short time visitors with multiple entries, temporary residents, or permanent residents, even as it makes it possible for the document to be issued at entry ports to visitors from countries where there is no Nigerian mission. Another feature of the new policy is that the size of capital importation will determine the level of quota to be granted to prospective foreign investors as well as the number of Nigerian employees.
This new visa regime should attract the commendation of right-thinking Nigerians and even well-intentioned foreigners. But we regret to point out that Nigeria has never lacked the capacity to formulate classy policies. The problem has always been in the implementation process. Old habits, it is said, die hard. With the level of corruption in the polity, some elements may still be inclined to attempt to circumvent it to their own advantage. They may succeed if the relevant agencies decide to adopt a habit of business as usual.
For it to be effective, it is pertinent to urge an inter-agency collaboration which will make the border areas be manned well enough to discourage any tendency toward illegal entry. The implementing agencies should also mount a public enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike on the new visa regime
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