The Ag. Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Mrs. Carol Wura-Ola Adepoju has announced a new initiative by the service to protect the business of foreign investors coming into the country to invest.
The new initiative is to ensure that any foreign investor seeking to partner a Nigerian is protected from being swindled by fraud who would masquerade as business men or women.
To this end, she disclosed that the NIS is to introduce a Trust Visa that would serve as a guarantee that foreign investors in partnership with a Nigerian are genuine.
The Ag. CGIS who stated this during her visit to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos for the opening of the Visa-On-Arrival, VOA Lounge emphasizing that, the initiative is to attract more foreign direct investments into Nigeria.
According to her, there are many reasons why Nigeria is attractive to foreign investors among them are, the population, the climate and the sophistication.
”Because of the prevalence of international crime, especially the ones that are done online, when you have a lot of fictitious business offers, but some of them are afraid, they do not know the caliber of the people they are dealing with, you know sometimes you will need partners here”.
Mrs Adepoju explained the NIS intends to collaborate with security agencies in the country to ensure the investors do not fall into the hands of fraudsters, adding that, the Nigeria would be profiled to ensure he/she has a clean record in business dealings.
”So when they have that thrust visa, we will partner with people like the DSS and other people who are entrusted with the security of this country, if you are an investor, you want to come to Nigeria and you want to partner with anyone, we will help you, we will have a dossier, we will have a security report on that person and we will let you know if he/she is a trustworthy person or not and the moment we are able to tell you who the person is, we will guarantee that your investment in partnership with them will be a success”.
The Ag. CGIS said, VOA facility is meant to simplify the bureaucratic processes associated with obtaining a business visa, which in turn increases the number of foreign investors who are willing to visit and invest.
”The improved user experience also increases the appeal of the country as an investment destination encouraging more foreign direct investment. Our records reveal that, in the year 2022, a total number of VOA issued at MMIA was fifty-five thousand, six hundred and forty-four (55, 644). You will agree with me that this number is significant economically, if we consider that they are high-net-worth Individuals (HNWI)”.
”The renovation and expansion of the VOA lounges speak to the commitment of the Service and the Nation to welcoming High Business Network Investors willing to come for business purposes. Lagos being a centre of excellence requires a befitting reception for this caliber of investors”.
”By providing travelers with the convenience of having their visa processed in a comfortable space and in a timely manner upon arrival, the NIS is showing its commitment to ease of doing business and hostmanship, the art of making people welcome, which has become our brand signature”.
Mrs. Adepoju after a tour of the different desk of the NIS both at the newly built and old terminals, she held a meeting with men and officers of the Service, urging them to perform their duties as stipulated in the constitution.
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone A Headquarters, Lagos, Kayode Sadiq in his address of welcome said, the expansion and facelift of the VOA Lounge was necessitated in further compliance with the Executive Order of the Federal Government on Ease of Doing Business by providing a conducive atmosphere for visa issuance to prospective investors with the creation of a long lasting impression in their minds.
”Today’s gathering serves as a reminder of the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving our goals. We value the strong relationships we have built with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria”.
Different partners of the NIS were commended for their support by the Comptroller MMIA, Lagos Command, Mrs. Adeola Adesokan and expressed gratitude to the Ag. CGIS for visiting the command to open for use the VOA Lounge to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their job.
