The Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu on Tuesday said the Federal Government has not scrapped visa on arrival policy.

Audu in a statement explained that she met with the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in Abuja to discuss the Visa on Arrival process and was assured that the policy has not been scrapped.

“The meeting aimed to address concerns and clarify the government’s stance on the VOA initiative”, she stated.

The statement disclosed that “during the meeting, the Minister of Interior reassured the DG that the Visa on Arrival process is not being scrapped, but rather upgraded to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This development is in line with PEBECs efforts to simplify procedures and reduce bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.

“The Minister further clarified that travellers will still be able to apply online for short-stay visas, with approvals being granted within 24 to 18 hours. Once approved, the visa will be sent to the applicant’s email, eliminating the need for a physical sticker upon arrival. This upgrade builds upon the existing online approval system, streamlining the process and enabling travellers to receive their approvals ahead of time.

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“This enhanced system aims to cut out inefficiencies, allowing Nigeria to better automate and control the inflow of travellers. With this upgrade, the country takes another step towards improving its business environment and attracting foreign investment”.