Foreigners not exempt from visa ban– NIS
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stated that foreigners who fail to comply with the mandatory Covid-19 test on entry into the country, would have their visas revoked.
The Comptroller General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 on Tuesday in Abuja.
He also said that the NIS would implement the Federal Government’s 6 months suspension of passports of Covid-19 test defaulters.
The Comptroller General emphasised on the future importance of health in travelling anywhere around the world. He declared it as “the next visa for global travel…especially the COVID-19 certificate.”
He said, “I can assure you that you may not be able to cross Nigerian borders without the vaccine certificate or your COVID-19 test.
“Also, it is our duty to implement the directive of Mr President, the powers are enshrined in the Immigration Act, the Constitution and from the regulation for COVID-19.
“The powers are there to restrict the person that has refused to comply with any regulation. This is because lack of compliance to COVID-19 regulations is a threat to public health.”
The NIS boss further added that foreigners’ visas can also be revoked and they are not exempted from the visa ban.
“This will also include non-Nigerians; we have the powers to revoke visas, even the Controller-General has the power to revoke visas. So, based on the powers given and additional conditions for entering Nigeria today, you must have COVID-19 test result, we will make you to comply. You must have evidence of payment. If you do the test it means you have complied. If you have not done the test, it means you have violated the conditions of entering the country, your visa will be revoked.”
Federal Government had announced the six months ban order placed on 100 passports belonging to Nigerian passengers who refused to undergo second Covid-19 tests after arriving in the country.
