THISDAY

PDP Chieftain Asks Buhari to Suspend Visa-on-arrival Policy

- Sylvester Idowu in Warri

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend visa-on -arrival policy for African countries.

The former governorsh­ip aspirant in Delta State argued that Nigeria which is already over populated in view of the GDP/population ratio did not need immigrants to come to Nigeria to further increase her population.

According to him, it is contradict­ory to close borders while allowing everyone to come to Nigeria.

He stated that despite the avalanche of socio economic problems in Nigeria, including high level unemployme­nt, President Buhari decided to make Nigeria a free- for -all destinatio­n, adding that it is disturbing that the decision on visa-on- arrival policy was never discussed and agreed on by the Senate.

Onuesoke, who queried the yardstick for justifying the decision, considerin­g the myriad of problems confrontin­g the nation, maintained that the policy would bring additional burden on already overburden­ed nation of unemployme­nt, insecurity and infrastruc­ture deficit among others.

The PDP chieftain argued that, while Nigeria desperatel­y needed to reduce her population, the president is inviting foreigners into the country without any visa or any checking, stressing that it is rich countries with small population that can implement such a policy for the purpose of attracting immigrants.

Onuesoke stated that going by the recent President Buhari’s policies, especially that of shutting the borders to protect Nigerian interests, “one was dumbfounde­d that he could even suggest the dangerous idea of throwing Nigeria border open to African immigrants by pronouncin­g visa on arrival policy”.

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