Nigerian President promises visas for Africans on arrival

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised all African travellers to Nigeria visas on arrival from January, dropping requirements for advanced applications.

The announcement comes five months after Nigeria signed a deal to promote free trade on the continent. President Buhari said it shows Nigeria’s commitment to “free movement of Africans within Africa”.

Critics have argued that the president is still pursuing a policy of protectionism, closing land borders with neighbours in August. This has impeded businesses from conducting cross-border trade by road.

Mr Buhari has rejected calls to lift the blockade, maintaining that it serves to end smuggling into Nigeria and help make the country self-sufficient. Land borders remain closed despite the fact that Nigeria is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas): a 15-nation bloc which facilitates visa-free travel for an estimated 350million Africans.

The President gave no indication of when the blockade will be lifted when he announced the new visa policy.

Research released by the African Development Bank shows that, currently, Africans need visas to travel to over half (51%) of other African countries. Visa-free travel for Africans is only possible in a quarter of nations.