Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced the suspension of the visa-on-arrival policy for foreigners, citing its ineffectiveness in tracking migration. Tunji-Ojo made the declaration during the closing ceremony of a training program for Nigeria Immigration Service officers.

“Nigeria is not a haven for criminals,” Tunji-Ojo emphasized. He noted that many foreigners deliberately avoid entering Nigeria by air, instead opting to enter through neighboring countries and making migration monitoring more challenging.

To enhance border security, the Federal Government will introduce landing and exit cards, which visitors will be required to complete before arriving in Nigeria. An e-visa system will also be launched, enabling applicants to process visas online and integrating with the Interpol database and Nigeria’s criminal records system.

The Minister stated that these measures are part of the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing stricter migration policies to enhance national security and streamline entry procedures. The new measures are expected to take effect by March or April.