FG to retaliate visa delay to Nigerians

The Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) has warned that Nigeria would no longer tolerate delay in issuance of visa to its nationals from any country.

The minister stated this yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, to resolve some of the issues militating against visa issuance.

The meeting also had in attendance, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the ComptrollerGeneral of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede.

Dambazau said that the delay in the issue of visa to Nigerians was becoming an embarrassment and must be resolved.

“It is embarrassing that one will want visa and will have unnecessary delay from the issuance countries.

“We as a country need to take our stand; we should deal with any country the way they deal with us on visa issuance.

“They should not think that we need them more than they need us,” he said.

Babandede, at the end of the meeting also corroborated the minister’s stand on the issue.

He said: “What we are saying is that we as a country, we would also like to retaliate.

“Anybody who delays visa for our nationals, we would also do the same as a country because we have a pride as a nation.”

The Comptroller-General, however, said that Nigeria was committed to ensuring that business was done normally with friends of the country.

“We are committed to issue visa on time and passport to our nationals wherever they are”.

Onyeama said that the meeting was to enhance ease of doing business in the country.