The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has announced that the Federal Government will introduce an e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards as part of efforts to enhance national security.
Keyamo disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to him, the new e-visa system will allow applicants to submit visa requests and upload required documents online.
He added that the manual landing and exit cards currently in use would be digitalised, requiring visitors to pre-fill their information before travelling to Nigeria.
“What we are doing here today reflects this government’s commitment to inter-ministerial cooperation, especially among ministries with overlapping mandates,” Keyamo said. “Today is another example of collaboration, specifically regarding the introduction of the e-visa system.”
He noted that further details would be provided by the Minister of Interior and that relevant agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would fully support the initiative.
Keyamo also emphasized that there were no objections to the programme, which primarily falls under the purview of the Ministry of Interior.
Meanwhile, Minister Tunji-Ojo announced that the automation system would take effect from May 1.
He explained that the e-visa application process would be free, streamlined to facilitate smoother entry into Nigeria while enhancing national security.
The NCAA, he added, would oversee the management of the digital landing and exit cards, which travellers will be required to complete online prior to boarding.
“Coordinating and issuing regulations to airlines is naturally within the NCAA’s mandate,” he stated.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that a central visa approval centre has already been established at the Immigration headquarters, staffed with trained officers and integrated with global criminal record databases.
“Stronger background checks will now be conducted on all travellers entering Nigeria. Our aim is to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a transparent, efficient visa process,” he said.
“Our ultimate goal is to open Nigeria’s borders to the world without compromising security. Both the Interior and Aviation ministries have crucial roles to play in achieving this.”
