September 15, (THEWILL) – The organisers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market have commended the Nigerian Government for the support and prompt resolution of the visa issues for its foreign delegates.
In a WhatsApp message to tourism stakeholders, the organiser, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, shared his relief that the knotty issue of Nigerian visa was solved quickly.
“I had made a post about my frustrations with visas for my delegates coming from all over Africa. I had complained that the online visa on arrival was very expensive and the Nigerian Embassies in East Africa were not giving visas, forcing everyone to go online.
“Some people shared my post with the Minister of Tourism and she called me to find out the details. After explaining the situation to her, she promised to engage her colleague, the Minister of Interior. I am happy to say that between the Ministers of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, they resolved the issues.
“My first delegates are arriving now and I am happy that resolution is not just for my event. The new measures will be applied across board to all African visitors to Nigeria.”
The organisers believe that Meetings Incentives Conferences and Events (MICE) are more obligatory than leisure travel, which is optional and Nigeria stands to benefit more by supporting MICE.
Akwaaba, as the biggest travel expo in West Africa, has not been supported by the government in access, venue and hosted buyers programmes, so this intervention by the Minister of Tourism is the first and is much appreciated.
The government of Nigeria has been on a review of its visa processes and the new measures will soon be announced. There have been complaints from most travellers to Nigeria about the expensive visa-on-arrival programme as Nigerian Embassies in some African countries do not have visa stickers.
The Akwaaba African Travel Market is scheduled to hold from September 22 to 24 at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre. This is the 20th edition of the tourism exhibition, with close to 20 countries expected to be represented at the event this year.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
