Nigeria will commence issuing of visa on arrival to all holders of African passport, as from January 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed.
According to him, this move is to promote free movement and facilitate the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Buhari who disclosed this in Egypt, on Wednesday, during the opening session of the ongoing Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa, noted that in order to realize its Pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, barriers that hinder free movement on the continent must be dismantled.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted President Buhari saying: “We in Nigeria, have already taken the strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered the free movement of our people within the continent by introducing the issuance of visa at the point of entry into Nigeria to all persons holding passports of African countries, with effect from January, 2020.”
He emphasized that massive investment in transportation infrastructure was necessary for African economic resurgence, as this would facilitate the African Free Trade Area Agreement recently signed on by the continental leaders.
He said: “Africa should embark on the provision of transport connectivity by enhancing the development of roads, rail, and air links which will ease the free movement of persons, goods and services within the continent.
“In this regard, we in Nigeria have already commenced an aggressive drive to upgrade our rail transport system and road networks across the country. We should furthermore promote free trade within and amongst Africa and Africans especially now that we have launched the African Free Trade Area Agreement.”
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