The Nigerian Government has announced plans to launch its electronic visa (e-visa) system on May 1, marking a significant step in enhancing Nigeria’s border security and simplifying travel processes. The announcement was made by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, during a joint press briefing with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, on Wednesday.
Keyamo highlighted that the introduction of the e-visa system would be accompanied by the digitalization of landing and exit cards at the country’s international airports. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Aviation and the Ministry of Interior, aims to streamline immigration procedures and improve the efficiency of border management.
“In continuation of our ongoing collaboration, earlier today, I held a joint press briefing with my colleague, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and our teams from various agencies. We announced plans to launch the e-visa system and also to digitalize the landing and exit cards at our international airports,” Keyamo explained. He added that a joint team had been formed to establish the protocols that would be communicated to airlines for strict adherence.
Tunji-Ojo further emphasized the significance of the new system, which is set to roll out on May 1. “This initiative not only showcases the strength of inter-ministerial collaboration but also demonstrates our commitment to optimizing processes for better service delivery,” he said in a statement. “The digitalization of the landing and exit cards will enhance efficiency, improve documentation, and support intelligence gathering on foreigners entering and leaving the country.”
The Minister of Interior also commended the collaboration between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which has been instrumental in ensuring the success of this initiative.
Tunji-Ojo also reiterated the government’s plan to cancel the visa-on-arrival policy, a proposal he first mentioned in February 2025, as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s visa and immigration processes.
This new e-visa system, alongside the digitalization of travel documentation, is expected to improve security at Nigeria’s borders while facilitating smoother travel for international visitors.
