Nigeria to scrap visa-on-arrival policy, introduces digital landing and exit cards
The Federal Government has announced plans to discontinue the visa-on-arrival policy and replace it with a digital landing and exit card system for visitors entering the country.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement during the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training for personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The minister emphasized that the new measures aim to enhance border security and streamline immigration processes.
The visa-on-arrival policy, introduced in 2020 under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, allowed short-stay visas to be issued at entry points. However, Tunji-Ojo stated that the system was ineffective, as it permitted individuals to enter Nigeria without prior approval or screening.
“We believe that it is better for us to take decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity,” he said. “Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 percent correct. You just have to be 100 percent.”
The landing and exit cards, which visitors will pre-fill before arrival, will replace the current manual documentation system. Tunji-Ojo stressed the need for technology-driven solutions to enhance border security.
“This is 2025, not 1825,” he stated. “Technology must take its place.”
Additionally, the government plans to harmonize the immigration data centre, integrating it with Interpol, criminal records databases, and background-checking agencies. This initiative, the minister said, will ensure that no approvals are granted without real-time clearance from relevant security agencies.
The move aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen national security, improve migration management, and modernize border control operations.
