This directive was issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a public event held on Thursday, May 23. He emphasized that Nigeria will no longer tolerate practices that are deemed unacceptable in other nations.
“We have issues with airlines, and we’ve already discussed this with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development as well as the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” Tunji-Ojo said.
“A lot of people are arriving in Nigeria without visas, and airlines are facilitating this. That is not acceptable. You cannot do this in any other country. If I want to travel to the UK and I don’t have a visa, British Airways will not board me without checking my documentation,” he added.
The Minister explained that such incidents have led to some passengers being turned back upon arrival in Nigeria. To address the issue, the government will begin strict enforcement of immigration laws in collaboration with the NCAA.
“Any airline that brings passengers without valid visas will be fined. We are not a testing ground. Before boarding any passenger for Nigeria, the airline must confirm the individual has a valid visa unless they are from a visa-exempt country,” Tunji-Ojo warned.
He called on airlines operating in Nigeria to comply fully with the nation’s immigration regulations, stating that the NCAA will soon issue an official directive to enforce this requirement.
On the visa application process, the Minister clarified that approvals are not guaranteed, stressing the importance of proper documentation and verification.
“Applying for a Nigerian visa does not automatically mean approval. Every application is thoroughly vetted. For short-stay visas, we even verify the hotel bookings provided,” he said.
As of May 22, 2025, he reported that 5,814 short-stay visa applications had been received: 5,617 were approved, 66 were rejected, and 62 were queried.
“We are building a system that ensures transparency, accountability, and accuracy,” he concluded.
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