Appreciating Extant Laws and Policies for The Grant of Visas and Permits in Nigeria: This article discusses the trends and degree of visa policies and how it aids the ease of doing business in Nigeria and the promotion of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI’s), both of which often necessitate in-person contracts. Visa and permit policies plays a significant role in the business sector of a Nation as it may boost or deter potential visitors from entering into the territory of a Nation, therefore producing an overwhelming effect on the economy.
The principal legislations regulating visa and permit issuance in Nigeria are the Nigerian Immigration Laws comprising of the;
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),
- Immigration Act, 2015;
- Immigration Regulations, 2017 and;
- Nigerian Visa Policy, 2020.
Other connected laws include the;
- Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010,
- Nigerian Investment and Promotion Commission (NIPC), among others.
These laws provide a vivid guide on the requirements, procedures, terms and condition for the issuance of visas and permits to foreigners desirous of visiting Nigeria either temporarily for leisure, for business purposes or to reside permanently in the country.
In a bid to bring Nigerian Immigration legislation in line with global best practices, the Honorable Minister of Interior on the 20th of March 2017, published the Immigration Regulations 2017 (the ‘Regulations’ 2017), which is to create a legal framework for the implementation of the Immigration Act 2015 (‘Act’) and the repeal of the implementation Regulations 1963[1]. The Act further establishes the Nigeria Immigration Service (‘NIS’), recognizing it as a body corporate which can sue and be sued, and charged the NIS with the responsibility for implementing the Act by setting out the duties of the NIS, chiefly the responsibility of controlling the movement of persons in and out of Nigeria, as well as the issuance of travel documents to Nigerians within and outside Nigeria.[2]
[1] Section 114, Nigeria Immigration Act, 2015, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
[2] Section 2, Nigeria Immigration Act, 2015. Section 9(1) and (2) of the Act, further vested the in the NIS the power to issue Nigerian passports to bona fide Nigerians, within and outside Nigeria.