Nigerian Government May Issue Visa to Passengers at Lagos Airport

Nigerian Government May Issue Visa to Passengers at Lagos Airport

There are indications that the Nigerian Government might introduce the issuance of visa to passengers who are transiting from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, south west Nigeria to other African countries, which would enable them move freely until they board their flights to their final destinations.

Prospects

Reports say if this is done, it would promote Lagos airport as a heart for West and Central Africa and it would enhance the market of Nigerian carriers, which presently dominate these destinations.

In addition to that, it would generate huge revenue for the Nigerian Government while attracting passengers from the sub region who presently connect their flights in Europe.

According to a senior Immigration official at the Lagos airport, what is presently obtained is that passengers destined for ECOWAS countries are not given visas and their movement is restricted at the airport, which limits their freedom to shop and spend money.

But if issued transit visas, such passengers could move around, shop and sightsee before boarding their flights.

Countries that have developed hub destinations in Africa like Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, and Algeria, have adopted this policy which has significantly expanded their passenger market; as such barriers and bureaucracy of obtaining visa at embassies for regular travelers have been eliminated at the airports.

It has also enhanced their major airports, which are used as hub, as passengers easily connect their flights to other destinations.

The CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, said that the Lagos airport also needs transit lounge, which would serve as meeting point for transiting passengers, noting that this was necessary because it is the basic facility for any airport that operates as a center to other destinations.

Also an organizer of Akwaaba Travel Market, Ikechi Ukoh, who acknowledged the importance of transit visa, pointed out that there should be availability of aviation fuel at relatively lower price and fares should also not be very high in a situation where Nigeria provides most of the air transport in West Africa.

Ikechi said “I thought initially when we were presenting the argument of the transit visa that the transit visa is a magic bullet that could make Lagos a hub, there are 15 countries in West Africa, most of them don’t have airlines and they depend completely on foreign carriers.”

Consequently, he advised that there should be easy cargo business environment and easy access to visa and transit passage.

NP/Chinemerem