The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Muhammad Babandede has revealed that the NIS has implemented procedures for international flights resumption and visa payment.
Babandede made the disclosure during a virtual meeting with stakeholders to address travel concerns and automation of Travel Work Permit on Wednesday in Abuja.
In a statement issued by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday James, Babandede said the procedures were in line with Federal Government’s approval for the commencement of international flight operations from September 5.
Babandede said Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were earlier approved by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for the implementation.
This, he said, in a letter with Ref. No. MI/PM/16012/S.366/Vol.ll/ dated 6th April, 2020 on the waiver for visa payment due to COVID-19, closure of land borders and suspension of international flights.
According to him, the NIS, in exercising its statutory mandate, wishes to implement as follows.
“All migrants in Nigeria whose permits expired from 23rd March to 5th September 2020 have extension.
“All migrants with evidence of confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out of the country were to be issued free extensions to enable them depart on or before 15th September 2020.
“All migrants whose permit or visitor’s pass expired before 23rd March 2020 will pay overstay penalty for the number of days stayed before the lockdown on 23rd March 2020.
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“All resident migrants whose permits expired outside the country from 23rd March 2020 shall be allowed entry into Nigeria with the expired permits on or before 25th September 2020.
“Such returning holders of expired permits and their dependents are to renew the permits within 30 days of arrival to Nigeria to avoid sanctions under relevant Immigration laws.
“All migrants who processed payments for visa-on-arrival and other categories of visas from the Nigerian Missions before 23rd March 2020, are to apply for re-validation.
“This should be done by uploading copy of the previous payments via cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng not later than 15th September 2020.
“All migrants who obtained visa-on-arrival pre-approval letters and other categories of visas from the Nigerian Missions before 23rd March 2020, whose approvals/visas expired before 5th September 2020 are also to apply for revalidation.
“This is without fresh payments but by uploading copies of the expired pre-approval letters/visas via cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng not later than 15th September 2020, ” he said.
Babandede said the Immigration Service had also activated visa-on-arrival and e-visa payment portals to enable the intending migrants to Nigeria process entry visas as from September 5.
He said in a situation where migrants had obtained a Temporary Work Permit approval and the Mission where such visas were to be issued were closed, they should submit the complaint through cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng.
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“These two international airports — MMIA and NAIA — are to commence issuance of visas in line with Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 with effect from the period of the opening of the designated Airports.
“Any violation will attract penalties, ” he said.
NAN reports that NIS hosted over 100 business stakeholders in a virtual meeting where issues of travel concern during COVID-19, procedures for residency were addressed.
Issues concerning entry of migrants affected by the suspension of international flights and closure of land borders were also addressed.
