BY MARY KUYE
In defiance of criticism of visa on arrival policy by many Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja formally launched the new visa policy.
The policy allows any traveller to visit Nigeria without visas and only commence the process of obtaining a visa on arrival into the country.
The controversial new visa policy was launched at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in the presence of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede.
Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior while addressing journalists posited that the new visa policy has broadened the scope of visa obtainment in Nigeria from the hitherto six categories to 79.
”The visa on arrival could only be obtained in four international airports, which include Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport,” he said
He, however, explained that the Enugu International Airport which is undergoing renovation was the fifth airport where the visa could be obtained in arrival.
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On his part, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service said that every nation has its own visa policy based on its needs, adding that the new policy will take care of emergency, education, religious tourism among others.