FG ignores Senate, begins visa-on-arrival policy for Africans

Despite the objections raised by the Senate and reservations expressed by some Nigerians about its visa -on - arrival policy for Africans, the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the new visa regime .
Sunday PUNCH findings revealed that the visa -on -arrival policy commenced on January 1 , as planned . Also , the Nigeria Immigration Service has deployed a new border management security system in four airports across the country .
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ) , on December 11 , 2018 at the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa , in Cairo , Egypt , announced the visa - on- arrival policy for Africans.
“We in Nigeria have already taken the strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered the free movement of our people within the continent by introducing the issuance of visa at the point of entry into Nigeria to all persons holding passports of African countries with effect from January 2020, ” the President said .
But, the announcement was greeted with criticisms by many Nigerians who believe the policy might worsen the security challenges facing the country .
The Senate also on December 17, 2019 summoned the Minister of Interior , Mr Rauf Aregbosola, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service , Muhammed Babandede, to brief the them on the policy .
The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti North, Olubunmi Adetunmbi , when he drew the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the executive did not carry the legislature along before coming up with the policy . Adetunmbi is also the chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning.
Adetunmbi , in his lead debate, argued that the executive did not seek necessary amendments to extant laws by the National Assembly before the policy would become operational.
The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe , in his contribution, had said Nigerians were worried about the policy because of a spate of insecurity in the country caused by some foreigners coming in .
“We want to make sure that we take care of our citizens before we start taking care of the whole Africa , ” he added.
Senator Gabriel Suswam also said that since the President made a policy statement “ it is now incumbent on him as Mr President to also direct the necessary authorities to bring the Immigration Act for us to amend .”
On his part , Senator Abba Moro, who is a former Minister of Interior , said when international agreements were entered into by Nigeria , they should be properly domesticated to give them a bite of legality and legitimacy .
Meanwhile, Senator Jibrin Barau has called on the National Assembly to provide legal backing to the policy , adding that the visa -on - arrival policy is being practised in developed countries and that it could open a country ’ s economy to emerging markets and investment opportunities.