…promises issuance of Visa on arrival to expatriates
By Sade Williams
The Federal government, on Thursday in Kaduna, launched the Harmonised Departure and Arrival cards at the Kaduna International Airport.
Launching the cards, Minister of Interior, Abdurahman Danbazau, in company of Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, said the harmonized cards were ready in 20 days as against 60 days which the Federal government thought it would be.
He said the harmonized cards are in line with international best practices and in pursuit of the Federal government policy of ease of doing business.
He said it is also to keep the records of movement of international, adding that the process mandates travelers, for security reasons, to fill the departure/arrival which contain their profile, addressed and other personal details in one harmonized form.
“Pursuant to this, non-Nigerians are expected to fill the departure/arrival cards while Nigerians are expected to fill departure cards. These cards are scanned and stored in data banks that is to be shared with relevant stakeholders, and in that regards, a unique and travel records of passengers are secured.
“The Federal government of Nigeria has chosen the Kaduna International airport to formally introduce this unique security document to the travelling public”, he said.
Danbazau, who said the introduction of these cards replaces the multiplicity of cards that hitherto existed, added that they have taken care of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Port Health Services,, NDLEA and others.
“This would go a long way to reduce the cumbersomeness and multipliocity of forms for travelers and enhance the ease of doing business in the long run”, he added.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that government was already working on how expatriates who want to do genuine business in Nigeria get visa as they arrive.
“Visa on arrival is central to ease of doing business in Nigeria, we are working on that with the Immigration department and very soon, it shall begin to issue to this to those who have genuine business to execute in Nigeria”, he added .
