FG hails e-visa rollout as successful, with over 14,000 applications processed
The Federal Government on Monday, June 30, declared the electronic visa (e-visa) system a success, revealing that over 14,000 applications were processed within the first six weeks of its launch on May 1.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on major immigration innovations held at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.
He also disclosed that two additional digital services—the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (e-CERPAC) and the electronic Temporary Work Permit (TWP)—are expected to go live within the next week.
“I can tell you, within the first six weeks of the e-visa, we were able to process over 14,000 visa applications. That, by any global standard, is a pass mark. It’s a huge one,” Tunji-Ojo said.
Addressing minor technical issues users encountered, he assured stakeholders that such glitches would be resolved shortly.
“We’re already working on it. Even yesterday, Sunday, in my house, the CGIS, technological partners, and the DCG Visa were all there. We worked for hours in my conference room. When you’re innovating, there’s no time to sleep. We’re determined to make it work,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the e-visa system is not only a migration management tool but also an instrument to stimulate economic growth.
“To me, when someone needs a visa to Nigeria and all they’re doing is looking for someone who knows the minister or the CG of Immigration—that’s not how to build a country. We must make the process easy without compromising national security. That’s what the e-visa represents,” he stated.
The minister also highlighted progress in border security, saying Nigeria’s new e-border solution has significantly improved the country’s security infrastructure.
“We’re not yet where we want to be, but we’re not where we were. There has been progress. We’ll continue to invest in e-border governance and deploy more personnel to ensure our borders are secure,” he said.
Commenting on the e-CERPAC and TWP, Tunji-Ojo said the new systems would eliminate the misuse of TWP as a loophole to bypass proper residence procedures.
“That era when people came in on TWP almost for free and kept renewing to avoid the law is over. TWP is now fully automated, just like CERPAC,” he said.
He also revealed that eliminating manual archiving in passport applications has saved the country nearly ₦1 billion annually, as the contract for the service was canceled.
Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, also spoke at the event, outlining the NIS’s recent digital innovations. She noted that the new visa regime includes several new services such as the e-Visa Application Channel, e-CERPAC, Landing and Exit Cards, and a digitized Temporary Work Permit.
“Our installed e-Gates at major airports and the recently commissioned Command and Control Centre are designed to integrate and support these technologies. These solutions streamline immigration processes, enhance national security, and improve experiences for travelers and stakeholders alike,” she said.
Nandap added that the e-visa system enables seamless online applications, removing the need for physical visits to immigration offices.
“The e-CERPAC integrates residence permits into a single digital document, simplifying the process for foreign nationals. The digitized Temporary Work Permit also reduces processing time and increases overall efficiency,” she concluded.
