Nigeria’s move to a fully digital visa system is already yielding results, with over 14,000 applications processed in just six weeks, according to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on innovations within the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) held in Abuja, the minister said the e-visa rollout, which began on May 1, 2025, marks a major shift in how the country handles migration.
“In just six weeks, we’ve processed more than 14,000 applications. By any global standard, that’s a clear sign that the system is working,” Tunji-Ojo said. “Yes, there are a few hitches, but we’re addressing them head-on.”
He stressed that the visa reform is not only about improving border control, but also part of a larger effort to attract investment and stimulate economic growth without compromising national security.
“People shouldn’t need to know the minister or any top official before they get a Nigerian visa. That’s not how to build a country,” he said. “We want a system that works — fast, secure, and transparent.”
The minister disclosed that the government is preparing to launch two more digital immigration services in the coming week — the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (e-CERPAC) and the electronic Temporary Work Permit (TWP). He warned that the days of manipulating the work permit system were over.
“Before now, people used to come in on temporary work permits and keep renewing them to avoid proper documentation. That abuse is over. We’ve automated the system,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that Nigeria now saves about N1 billion annually after scrapping manual archiving of passport data, thanks to the digital overhaul.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, said the Service had embraced several tech innovations to improve efficiency and security.
“We now have an e-Visa Application Channel, e-CERPAC, digital Landing and Exit Cards, and automated Temporary Work Permits,” Nandap said. “Our e-Gates at airports and a Command and Control Centre are already operational and will serve as the brain behind this transformation.”
According to her, the e-visa system has eliminated the need for physical visits to immigration offices, allowing applicants to complete the process online. She added that digitising the temporary work permit has also drastically reduced processing time.
Tunji-Ojo concluded with a firm commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s border management system, noting that while the country isn’t where it wants to be, “we are certainly not where we used to be.”
“We will keep investing in e-border governance and put more boots on the ground. Every inch of Nigerian border must be secured,” he said.
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