The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that Nigeria’s recently launched electronic visa (e-visa) system has processed over 14,000 applications in its first six weeks.

He disclosed this on Monday at a stakeholder sensitisation workshop on key innovations introduced by the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja on Monday.

He disclosed that the electronic Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card and the electronic Temporary Work Permit would be launched within the next week.

He also emphasized the efficiency of the new system, noting that more than 14,000 visa applications were processed in the first six weeks of the e-visa implementation.

“It is a huge one and of course, those little hitches, I tell you, within the next one to two weeks, will be history. We will correct them and we are already working on it,’’ he said.

The Interior Minister stated that the e-visa system was introduced not just to enhance migration management, but also to serve as a driver of economic growth.

“To me, when somebody needs a visa to Nigeria, and all he is looking for is who knows the minister, who knows the CG Immigration, who knows the Permanent Secretary, that is not how to grow a country.

“We must make visa issue easy while not compromising national security. There must be that strategy.

“So for the e-visa, I want to assure you that it is here, and by the grace of God, is here to stay, ” he maintained.

Tunji-Ojo, however, noted that the e-border solution had significantly enhanced Nigeria’s border security system.

He remarked, “We’re not yet where we want to be, but we’re no longer where we used to be.

“There has been progress, and the simple truth is, we will continue to invest in our e-border governance.

“We will put more boots on the ground to make sure that every inch of the Nigerian border space is well protected,” he said.