The Nigeria Immigration Service at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA Lagos has put measures in place for the speedy processing of all passengers as well as those seeking Visa On Arrival, VOA.
The service in the last 6 months processes over 5,000 VOA on a weekly basis introduced as part of the Executive Order aimed at Ease of Doing Business.
Investigations revealed that foreigners seeking Visa On Arrival at the airport now get it seamless after fulfilling all the requirements needed by the Nigeria government.
Visas currently being issued include the business and tourist visas issued for just a month.
According to an immigration officer who spoke to Newsbulletinng under anonymity said all that is required is a letter seeking approval, a business permit letter as well as a certificate of incorporation and an airline ticket, adding that there is also a approval letter signed by the Comptroller General in Abuja, evidence of payment and passport validity which must not be less than six months.
” before visa is issued, we ensure that the one seeking it is not on the watch list maybe a terrorist, we do our work thoroughly”.
” we have officers at the E and D arrival to attend to those on Visa On Arrival, there are there 24 hours everyday on shift”.
The immigration officer noted that an operation center is based at the E arrival to attend to bulk passengers, coordinate deportation and repatriation, adding that this are some f the measures put in place to make their job more efficient and effective.
” we have surveillance officers working round the clock and move around in mufti, each officer has a name plate , it must be displayed on the counters but sometime passengers mistake other security officers with that of immigration because they really do not know the difference especially when there is a problem, so this display of names will help to free our officers from any problem”.
Our sources also explained that the rate of deportation of Nigerians back home is alarming, he said despite efforts to discourage them from going out, they will refuse to listen and heed the warning of failure.
He said,” when they bring them back, they come with nothing, sometimes after spending 6 months or even years abroad, they borrow money to travel, there was one who said, he borrowed N700,000 to travel, he was returned back and did not even have money to travel back”.
” There is no day they will not bring them back, young girls, they do not have anything when they return”.
“Anyone deported, his passport has to be withdrawn but they keep insisting it is their own, when anyone is deported, his passport is no longer his, its now a property go the Federal Government, it will stay that way for 2-5 years to discourage people from going back again” he added.
Another challenge, he said are the airlines, who bring in passengers without the requisite travel documents, adding when this happen, the airlines are fined 2,000 dollars as sanction.
He assured that synergy between other sister security agencies have improved tremendously at the airport and are partnering to improve passengers experience at the airport.
“We meet to discuss common problems, we hardly have friction now as it use to be and there is the willingness to work, there is also good relationship with the passengers, now there are positive comments from them”.
