The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that airlines flying passengers into Nigeria without valid visas will face sanctions.

Speaking at a sensitization programme on the newly launched e-visa policy in Lagos on Friday, Tunji-Ojo said the enforcement measure follows consultations with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo.

The new e-visa policy took effect this month and aims to enhance immigration compliance and national security.

He stated that airlines regularly bringing passengers into Nigeria without visas are engaging in a practice that would not be tolerated in any other country.

He emphasized that Nigeria will no longer serve as a testing ground for actions that are banned elsewhere.

He said, “We have issues with the airlines, and we have spoken to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about it.

“A lot of people come into Nigeria without visas, and airlines pick them up. It is not the right thing to do. You can’t do this in any other country. If I want to travel to the UK and I don’t have a visa, British Airways will not pick me up. They must see my visa. Recently, we had to turn some people back because they didn’t have any visas. With the support of the NCAA, we will start to implement the law. Any airline that picks up passengers who do not have a visa will be fined.

“How can someone come from Europe or Asia without a visa and then come into Nigeria and start making calls to ask how he or she can get a visa? It is not done anywhere. Please, we are pleading with you, you are here to do business, but you must obey Nigeria’s laws. The NCAA should please enforce this regulation. Please, before anyone comes into Nigeria, make sure you see the person’s visa. Do not pick up anyone without a visa, and the NCAA will have to issue a directive to that effect. Unless you are from a visa-free country, you must have a visa before entering Nigeria. Nigeria is not a testing ground where you can do what you can’t do in other countries. The power of enforcement will come into play; you must cite the visa and confirm the person has a valid visa.”

Regarding visa approvals, he clarified that applying for a Nigerian visa does not guarantee it will be granted.

“If you don’t qualify, you won’t get it. This time around , we go and verify any information you input when applying for short stay visas. We go to the hotel and ensure as well.

“On the approval rate, as of May 22, 2025, we had 5,814 visa applications: 5,617 approved, 66 rejected, and 62 queried. That is for those coming for short stays. We go to the hotel you input to verify if you actually booked. We will create a perfect system,” he stated.

Also speaking, the NCAA DG, Capt. Najomo, while speaking, said the introduction of the e-Visa and the associated landing and exit card systems marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards enhancing air travel facilitation while ensuring the highest standards of aviation security and operational efficiency are maintained.