The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has assured the public that Nigeria is working on a solution following the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the visa-on-arrival (VOA) policy.
The announcement by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, sparked concerns among investors, business travelers, and tourists who rely on the process for easier entry into Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday, PEBEC’s Director-General, Zahrah Audu, said the Council is actively engaging with the Ministry of Interior to prevent disruptions for foreign visitors.
“We understand the anxiety this has caused among the foreign community and would like to assure all stakeholders that PEBEC is actively engaging with the Minister of Interior to find a solution,” Audu said.
She said the main goal is to enhance security without scrapping a policy that has played a key role in attracting tourism, trade, and investments.
“Our primary objective is to strengthen security around the VOA process while maintaining the policy, which has been instrumental in promoting tourism, trade, and investment in Nigeria,” she added. “We believe that with collaboration and dialogue, we can address the security issues identified and achieve a secure and efficient VOA process that benefits all parties involved.”
Audu also reaffirmed PEBEC’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s ease of doing business, highlighting several initiatives aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and creating a more business-friendly environment.
Concerns Drive Government’s Decision
Meanwhile, Minister Tunji-Ojo defended the planned cancellation, citing national security as the main reason behind the decision. According to him, the Nigerian government wants to ensure that every visitor is properly vetted before arriving in the country.
“Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 percent correct. You just have to be 100 percent,” he said. “We believe that it is better for us to take decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity.”
He further explained that the government is introducing a new digital landing and exit card system to track visitors more efficiently.
“We do it now, but it is manual. We are not going to be doing that anymore. This is 2025, not 1825. Technology must take its place,” he added.
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