The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced significant changes to its immigration procedures, set to take effect on May 1, 2025. These reforms aim to enhance border security and streamline the entry and exit processes for foreign travelers.
Through automation, foreigners will now need to complete forms online before boarding flights to or from Nigeria. No
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Wednesday, during a joint briefing with the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo clarified that the new system is free of charge and is designed solely to enhance national security and data management.
He said, “We’ve always had the exit and landing cards, but in a manual format—you had to fill out a paper form. But Nigeria is a country of 230 million brilliant people, and we must lead the pack when it comes to technology. In view of that, we are automating the process, and everything will take effect from May 1, 2025.
“So, the landing and exit cards will be filled online before boarding and must be presented to airlines before you can be allowed on board. The responsibility for coordinating and issuing regulations to airlines lies with the NCAA, and we’ve agreed today that the NCAA will handle that, as they are as committed as we are to protecting our country, securing our borders, and upholding our national sovereignty.
“In addition, we’ll be introducing other measures which we’ll explain more explicitly later. We’ve also agreed that the e-visa will make it easier for people to come into Nigeria while enhancing national security. Applications will be processed online.
“There is already a centralised visa approval centre at the immigration headquarters. Officers have been trained, equipped, and the system is integrated with major global criminal databases, including Interpol. This will allow for better background checks for those entering Nigeria. The landing and exit cards are free. No one is paying for them. It’s purely for security and record-keeping purposes.”
Tunji-Ojo also revealed a three-month amnesty period, which will end on May 1 when full enforcement will begin.
“The programme starts on May 1, 2025. We’ve also decided on a three-month amnesty period before full enforcement. Implementation begins May 1, but the amnesty allows foreigners who have overstayed their visas or breached immigration laws to come forward and regularize their status at immigration offices,” he said.
The minister recalled that the collaboration between the two ministries had previously resulted in the deployment of the Advanced Passenger Information System, which has greatly enhanced border surveillance.
According to him, several individuals on Interpol’s red notice list have recently been apprehended upon entry into Nigeria through the system.
“These are people who, before this administration, would have found their way into Nigeria unnoticed. But thanks to our collaboration, they’ve been arrested and handed over to Interpol,” he said.
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, explained the operation of the automated system, stating that when a foreigner arrives in Nigeria, their entry card, filled out online, will be verified against their passport number.
The same process will apply when departing, with the exit card being checked in the same manner.
“If you’re a foreigner and you walk up to a boarding desk, airline staff will ask for your exit card. If you’ve overstayed, the system will flag it, and the airline will refer you to immigration officers,” Keyamo explained.
