Nigeria Immigration Service → PRESS RELEASE BY THE SERVICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, AT THE NIS HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA, ON 13th NOVEMBER, 2023

PRESS RELEASE BY THE SERVICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, AT THE NIS HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA, ON 13th NOVEMBER, 2023

1. Yesterday, a group of eleven of our personnel were returning to Abuja from an official assignment in Kano, in an eighteen-seater official bus. Tragically, they were involved in a ghastly accident a few kilometers from Kano. As a result, four of our personnel lost their lives. This has been a deeply distressing and sorrowful moment for all of us within the Nigeria Immigration Service.

2. Seven of our colleagues who sustained various degrees of injuries are currently receiving treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano. Our thoughts and prayers are with them for a swift and complete recovery.

3. The Nigeria Immigration Service, in light of this unfortunate incident, had to first ensure the families of the deceased were informed and supported before addressing the media. Arrangements for the burials of our departed colleagues are being organized with utmost care and respect.

4. The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, is deeply grieved by this loss and is personally extending her condolences and support to the families of the deceased. The Service stands firmly with those left behind by their breadwinners during this distressing period.

5. An immediate investigation has been ordered by the Acting CGI to ascertain the remote cause of the accident. We are committed to understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event and will take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

6. This is a time of deep reflection for the entire Nigeria Immigration Service family. The Acting CGI has directed all Commands and Formation Heads to fly our flag at half-mast for the next seven days. We will observe a three-day mourning period in honor and memory of our fallen colleagues.

7. We appreciate your understanding and support during this difficult time. We ask for your respect for the privacy of the affected families as they navigate this immense loss.

Thank you

Adedotun Aridegbe, PhD,

Service Public Relations Officer,

Nigeria Immigration Service 

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has urged Nigerians who applied for International Passport and are yet to collect to visit the passports offices for collection as backlog has been cleared.

Immigration spokesman, Dotun Aridegbe a Deputy Comptroller of Immigration who disclosed this in an exclusive chat with The Guardian noted that: “The days of passports backlog are now over.”

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had given the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) two weeks to clear the over 200,000 pending passport applications before it.

The minister gave the order during a meeting with the Acting Comptroller-General of NIS, Caroline Adepoju, immediately he assumed duty in Abuja.

The meeting where the order was given was also attended by Managing-Director, Iris Smart Technologies, Mr Yinka Fisher, the firm in charge of the production of Nigerian passport booklets.

The minister had said the order was in fulfillment of his promise to remove all bottlenecks in the acquisition of Nigerian passport and other immigration documents.

In fulfilment of the minister’s order, the Acting Comptroller General (CG) of Immigration, Mrs. Carol Adepoju Wura-Ola, had activated full-scale implementation team of NIS heirachy, which recorded tremendous success.

“Please help us tell applicants whose passports are lying in various passports offices across the country to go and collect their passports. We are working round the clock to make applicants happy.” He said.

This is a notice for produced passports yet to be collected. Below is a list of centers with uncollected passport. Click on the respective center to view of uncollected passport list.

List of Centers with Uncollected Passports

  1. Alausa
  2. Bauchi
  3. Benue

Passport applications can take up to 6 weeks to be processed for new applications and up to 3 weeks for renewals. Expect to receive your passport not more than 6 weeks after your biometric enrollment for new passports and not more than 3 weeks after biometric enrollment for renewals.

The Nigerian government has announced a temporary ban on non-Nigerian passengers who have been in Brazil, India or Turkey within 14 days of intended arrival into Nigeria.

This is due to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.

Mr. Mustapha said the travel ban does not apply to passengers who only transited through these countries that have been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases in the past week.

He said the new travel advisory shall come into effect from May 4 and shall be subject to review after an initial period of 4 weeks.

Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within Fourteen (14) days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria,” he said.

India has had more COVID-19 cases in the last seven days than anywhere else in the world, Reuters reported. 

Indian hospitals, morgues and crematoriums have been overwhelmed as the country has reported more than 300,000 daily cases for more than 10 days straight. Many families have been left on their own to scramble for medicines and oxygen.

Nearly 10 Indian states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions, even as the federal government remains reluctant to impose a national lockdown.

The pandemic also continued to wreak havoc in Brazil, which on Thursday became the second country to officially top 400,000 COVID-19 deaths — April was Brazil’s deadliest month of the pandemic, with about 100,000 lives lost.

Source: Premium Times 

The PTF on Covid-19 has enforced all passengers arriving in Nigeria fill the pre-arrival form and generate a QR code before onboarding their flight.

The Nigeria High Commission wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has issued the following REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL for persons arriving in Nigeria from Abroad (including returnees/stranded Nigerians). PRE-DEPARTURE/ ON BOARD A. Passengers arriving /returning to Nigeria must have tested NEGATIVE for COVID19 (pre-boarding PCR test in country of departure).

PCR test MUST be within 2 weeks before departure and preferably no less than 5 days pre boarding. B. Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board; but for the 5 days minimum, this is advisory and will not preclude boarding. C. On board, passengers are required to fill in the Health Declaration/ Self Reporting Form & the Sample Collection Time Allocation Form (see the attached form). D. Passengers should ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form are correct and are verifiable and they can be reached on the phone number and at the address provided. ON ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA A. Upon arrival in Nigeria, passengers shall queue in an orderly manner and disembarkation will be done systematically and in batches to avoid overcrowding. B. Passengers will proceed for health screening at the Point of Entry. C. The Health Declaration Form will be assessed and collected along with the Sample Collection Form. D. Passengers are requested to:

(i) Keep their face masks on. (ii) Perform hand hygiene. (iii) Ensure respiratory / cough etiquette; cough into tissue, sleeve/ bent elbow and discard used tissue safely into a bin. (iv) Always observe and maintain physical distancing measures. E. Persons who have arrived in Nigeria are advised to self isolate for 14 days and to remain in the City/ State where the Point of Entry is located (i.e., Lagos or Abuja) throughout the duration of self-quarantine. F. If not resident in Lagos or Abuja, passengers shall make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost ( Please note that the Federal Government will not be responsible for providing accommodation nor transportation to the place of abode). G. Passengers will be cleared through the Nigeria Immigration System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and their passports retained until after successful completion of the 14 days self-quarantine. H. They will be given an appointment time and date to present at the Sample Collection Centre located in Lagos or Abuja for a repeat COVID19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. I. Passengers must provide their full and correct address and phone number before exiting the airport. They must comply with self isolation/quarantine guidelines and ensure that they can be reached/can be

located during the period. J. Persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their States of residence ONLY after: (a) They have had their samples collected and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19. (b) Provided Public Health Officials with their full and correct address and phone number where they can be reached. K. Persons who have completed the 14 days of self-isolation/quarantine will undergo an exit interview.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) launched the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 (the NVP 2020) on February 4, 2020. This was created as part of the continuous effort of the Federal Government to support the country’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) by ensuring that local visa policies reflect global best practices. The NVP 2020 seeks to improve the ease of doing business, attract foreign direct investment, tourists, and individuals with specialized skills without compromising national security. In detail Key highlights of the NVP 2020:

• New visa classes – The NVP 2020 expands the previous six classes of visas to 79 classes. Each visa class is intended to cover every conceivable travel purpose. Nigerians who were born abroad with dual citizenship or who renounced Nigerian Citizenship also have special visa classes. Each visa will have a unique code for ease of identification and processing.

• Visa on Arrival – The Visa on Arrival is available for short visits to passport holders of African Union member states. • Visa application process – It reviews the visa application process to include embassies, application centers, Visa on Arrival, e-Visas, and the automation of Temporary Work Permit (TWP) application. The effective date of the NVP 2020 was not announced at the time it was launched.

The Comptroller General of Immigration has now published an effective date. Effective date Though introduced earlier in the year, the NVP 2020 comes into effect at all ports of entry and Nigerian Missions from October 1, 2020. New visa classes There are four visa exemption classes: 1. Citizens of any Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Insights 2 PwC 2. Visa abolishment agreement countries; 3. International organizations; and 4. Reciprocity visa waiver agreement countries.

There are 75 new visa mandatory classes (previously six) broadly in three groups as follows:

• Short Visit Visas (24 classes) – Allows people visit for no more than three months on tourism, business travel, seminars, etc.

• Temporary Residence Visas (36 classes) – Allows individuals to reside in Nigeria for a period not exceeding two years on employment, also for students, interns, etc.

• Permanent Residence Visas (15 classes) – Caters to long-term stay by retirees, investors, highly skilled immigrants and their spouses.

Permits for principal applicants ranging from five years to an indefinite period. The purpose of the expansion is to ensure specific visa needs are met by the applicable visa class. Where visitors to Nigeria were generally categorized as business, work, tourist, or transit persons, the NVP 2020 has created visa classes to suit the varied status of visitors.