Immigration Service boss debunks Fani-Kayode’s claim over FG’s visa-on-arrival policy

The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede has addressed security fears raised by some Nigerians over the decision by the Federal Government to allow Africans into Nigeria without Visa from January 2020.

Babandede who issued a statement in Abuja on Friday through Sunday James, the NIS Public Relations Officer, said that the decision would remove barriers hindering free movement of people within the continent.

Recall, that a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode had raised alarm over supposed dangers that would come with President Muhammadu Buhari government’s visa free policy for Africans.

In a post on his verified Twitter handle- @realFFK, the former minister argued that the policy was a “subtle attempt to alter the racial and religious demographics of our country and open our front door for mass Fulani, Berber, Taureg and Arab migration into our shores.”

But Babandede in his statement, allayed the fears, stating that “Nigeria’s strategic decision is taken to bring down barriers that have hindered free movement of our people within the continent by introducing the visa at the point of entry into Nigeria with effect from January 2020,” the statement by Babandede read in part.

He also assured of the NIS commitment to high professionalism in delivering its services without compromising the National Security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Recall that in the month of October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Nigeria is gradually moving to a “visa-on-arrival” regime as part of efforts to improve “Ease of doing business in the country.”

Onyema, who stated this at a meeting with his Namibian counterpart, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, said that the two countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas that would be beneficial to both countries.

He added at the time that efforts to move Nigeria towards a “visa-on-arrival” regime as part of the policy of “Ease of doing business” has necessitated the development of “online applications which will facilitate that, but it is still a work in progress.”

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