The Federal Government will introduce an e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards starting May 1, 2025, to enhance national security and streamline entry procedures, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo announced Thursday.
According to NAN, the announcement came during a meeting in Abuja with Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose ministry will spearhead the initiative.
“This government is committed to cooperation between ministries with overlapping mandates. Today is another example of inter-ministerial collaboration,” Keyamo said during the joint ministerial briefing.
Under the new system, visa applicants will submit requests and upload required documents electronically. Additionally, the traditional paper landing and exit cards will be replaced with a digital version that visitors must complete online before travelling to Nigeria.
Keyamo pledged that relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), would fully support the initiative, which primarily falls under the Interior Ministry’s jurisdiction.
Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo confirmed the May 1 implementation date, stating that the e-visa application process will be free of charge.
“Our goal is to open Nigeria’s borders without compromising security,” Tunji-Ojo said. “The NCAA will manage landing and exit cards, which travellers must complete online before boarding.”
The Interior Minister also revealed that a central visa approval centre has been established at the NIS headquarters, staffed with trained officers and equipped with integrated global criminal record check capabilities.
“Better background checks will be conducted for travellers entering Nigeria. We aim to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a transparent visa process,” he added.
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