The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 said that Nigerians in diaspora with expired passport would no longer require visas to visit home.
The Service, however, stated that they must show their expired Nigeria’s passport to ensure they were truly from Nigeria.
Tony Akuneme, the NIS Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Abuja.
Akuneme was reacting to inquiries about the new visa policy of the Federal Government which said that Nigerians with dual citizenship don’t need visa to visit home.
“The status of the new policy is that Nigerians with dual citizenship are free to come to Nigeria but with their Nigeria passport even if it’s expired.
“You have to show that you are a Nigerian, that is why we say they can come with their expired passport. Dual citizenship means carrying two passports.
“Unlike before that when your passport is expired you will not be allowed to come to the country, now we can allow them to travel in with their expired Nigeria passport”, he said.
Akuneme further explained that although the essence was to allow them return home, they will be required to renew the passport before returning to their destinations.
“The whole essence is that when they arrive, they must renew their Nigeria passport before going back,” the NIS spokesman added.
Visa Ban: Air Peace Halts Flights To Dubai
Air travellers from Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, will be forced to consider alternative means of transportation in the coming days.
This came as Nigeria’s indigenous airline, Air Peace suspended flight operations to the country indefinitely.
This is coming against the backdrop of the non-issuance of visas by the UAE government to Nigerians.
Vanguard reported that the country’s immigration authorities last month announced a visa ban for Nigerians without any reason.
Also, they stated that all submitted applications are rejected and fees non-refundable.
Following the development, the management of Air Peace in a statement made available to Vanguard, stated that, “We hereby inform the public, especially our Dubai passengers, that effective from Tuesday, November 22, we shall be suspending our Dubai operations till further notice.
“This is consequent upon the persisting non-issuance of visas to Nigerian travellers by the government of the United Arab Emirates and the accompanying inconveniences.
“Air Peace has been operating into UAE even with the country’s recent travel restrictions.
“But given the heightening hurdles Nigerian travellers are facing in accessing the country, it has become imperative that we halt our operations to that destination.
“We shall provide further updates as the situation progresses.
“Passengers whose flights are affected by this development can mail our call center to attend to their concerns.”
Source: Vanguard
