2 months ago
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The organisers of Akwaaba African Travel Market have lauded the Federal Government for supporting and promptly resolving the visa issues for its foreign delegates.
Akwaaba African Travel Market is an international travel, tourism and hospitality event organised annually in Lagos, aimed at businesses, investors, government decision-makers and buyers in the industry providing business opportunities, industry news and showcasing products in Africa and around the world.
In a WhatsApp message to tourism stakeholders, the lead organiser of the summit, Ambassador, Ikechi Uko, expressed relief that the Nigerian visa issue was solved quickly.
He explained that he had posted about his frustrations with visas for delegates from all over Africa.
He complained that the online visa on arrival was very expensive, accusing the Nigerian embassies in East Africa of not issuing visas, and forcing everyone to go online.
He stated that some people shared his post with the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, who called him to find out the details.
After explaining the situation to her, he said the minister promised to engage her colleague, the Minister of Interior.
“I made a post about my frustrations with visas for my delegates coming from all over Africa. I complained that the online visa on arrival was very expensive and the Nigerian embassies in East Africa were not giving visas, forcing everyone to go online. Some people shared my post with the Minister of Tourism and she called me to find out the details.
“After explaining the situation to her, she promised to engage her colleague, the Minister of Interior. I am happy to say that the Ministers of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, resolved the issues.
“My first delegates are arriving now and I am happy that the resolution is not just for my event. The new measures will be applied across the board to all African visitors to Nigeria.”
Uko believed that meetings, incentives, conferences and events are more obligatory than leisure travel, which is optional and Nigeria stands to benefit more from supporting MICE.
The government is currently reviewing its visa processes and the new measures will soon be announced.
There have been complaints from most travellers to the government about the expensive visa-on-arrival programme as Nigerian embassies in some African countries do not have visa stickers.
Akwaaba African Travel Market will be held September 22-24 in Lagos.
