In a move that aligns with a broader trend of African nations tightening their borders, the Nigerian government has announced plans to abolish its Visa-on-Arrival policy, citing inefficiencies and security risks. Instead, visitors will now be required to pre-fill landing and exit cards before arriving in the country, a policy that will allow for better screening and migration management.

The decision, announced by Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Friday, February 16, marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s immigration policy and underlines a departure from the more open approach that was once championed by African nations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The AfCFTA, which officially came into force in 2021, aims to promote the free movement of people and goods across Africa’s borders.

However, the growing trend of countries tightening their visa policies—including those of Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya—suggests that the dream of a fully integrated African economy may remain elusive.

Tunji-Ojo, speaking at the closing ceremony of a week-long training on Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data in national security and law enforcement at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abuja, emphasized that the current Visa-on-Arrival system has been compromised by criminals who use it as an easy entry point into the country.

According to him, intelligence reports indicate that criminal elements have exploited loopholes in the visa-on-arrival system, using neighboring countries as entry points into Nigeria through its vast and porous land borders. He announced that in response, the government would extend the API/PNR system to land borders, making it much harder for undocumented individuals to enter the country undetected.

“What the API, PNR gives us is objectivity in decision making, objective profiling, not subjective profiling. What we had was subjective. The visa system, that is one of the core, because I always tell people the visa is not just an approval of entry, it is a migration management device. It is a security device to manage migration into your country,” he said.

The Shift Away from Open Borders in Africa

Nigeria’s decision to cancel the Visa-on-Arrival policy follows a growing wave of African nations tightening visa restrictions, a development that runs counter to the goals of the AfCFTA, which seeks to create the world’s largest free trade area by enabling the seamless movement of goods, services, and people across the continent.

The AfCFTA was designed to unite 54 of Africa’s 55 countries into a single market, fostering regional integration, economic growth, and intra-African trade. Advocates of the agreement believe that allowing for the free movement of businesspeople and professionals would enhance investment opportunities and create a more competitive African market valued at approximately $3.4 trillion.

However, recent developments suggest that key economies on the continent are not fully committed to the free movement aspect of AfCFTA, a situation largely attributed to insecurity. In addition to Nigeria’s visa crackdown, countries such as Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have all introduced more stringent visa measures over the past year, citing security concerns and the need for tighter migration controls.

These policy shifts have led to growing skepticism about whether AfCFTA can ever be fully implemented. Many analysts believe that, while economic integration is desirable, insecurity, terrorism, and cross-border crime make the free movement of people a politically sensitive issue that governments are increasingly unwilling to embrace.

Security Concerns Trumping Economic Integration

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior justified the decision by pointing to the need for objective migration control, arguing that the existing visa system was too subjective and vulnerable to abuse.

He also criticized the role of Nigerian foreign attachés in visa approvals, stating that visa decisions should no longer be left to discretion but should be entirely automated and subject to rigorous screening.

“We do not want foreign attachés approving and issuing visas. It is not going to be that anymore. We want to screen people more. Nigeria is not a safe haven for criminals and will never be,” he added.

Security concerns, particularly regarding terrorism, human trafficking, and economic sabotage, have been at the center of Nigeria’s decision. The government argues that criminal networks have taken advantage of lenient visa policies, allowing wanted individuals to enter Nigeria under false pretenses.

The tightening of immigration controls is expected to be implemented between March 1 and April 1, 2024, and will include measures such as mandatory pre-filled landing and exit cards, integration of visa processing with global security databases, and real-time tracking of foreign nationals.

“The e-visa solution will be integrated with Interpol, criminal record systems, and other background-checking agencies, so we can take more informed decisions,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The Future of AfCFTA and Free Movement in Africa

The AfCFTA was heralded as a transformative economic agreement that could reshape trade on the continent by removing barriers, harmonizing regulations, and encouraging intra-African business. However, its ambitious vision rests on the ability of African nations to trust one another and open their borders for the free movement of professionals, entrepreneurs, and workers.

The recent wave of stricter visa policies—led by the continent’s largest economies—raises concerns that AfCFTA may never be fully realized. Many African governments fear that without proper security measures, open borders could exacerbate existing challenges such as illegal migration, terrorism, and cross-border crime.

Security experts argue that, while free movement is a noble goal, it cannot be prioritized over national security concerns. Given the instability in regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, some governments believe that allowing unrestricted travel could make it easier for criminal networks, insurgents, and traffickers to operate across borders.

There are also economic concerns driving the decision to tighten visa policies. Some African nations worry that free movement could lead to an influx of economic migrants from poorer regions, placing pressure on local job markets and public resources.

The decision by Nigeria and other African nations to reverse or tighten their visa policies is widely seen as a setback for regional integration efforts. While trade barriers are being lifted under AfCFTA, restrictions on movement suggest that true economic unity remains a distant goal.

Economists have noted that the challenge facing African leaders now is how to balance national security with the vision of an integrated African market. If major economies like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa continue to prioritize border restrictions over AfCFTA’s free movement agenda, it raises fundamental questions about the future of the agreement.

In a bid to accelerate its economic diversification and industrialization drive, the Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed for China’s support in establishing electric vehicle (EV) assembly plants in the country.

The request was made by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a visit by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Describing China as one of Nigeria’s largest trade partners, Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the long-standing economic cooperation between both countries and the need for deeper collaboration, particularly in the automotive sector.

“In line with President Tinubu’s policy to industrialize Nigeria, we expect China’s cooperation to enable us to establish assembly plants for electric vehicles,” she stated.

However, as Nigeria expresses its ambition to advance in the EV industry, analysts have pointed out a critical gap in the country’s infrastructure—electricity. Given Nigeria’s chronic power shortages, economic experts say that the government should prioritize seeking China’s support in resolving its energy crisis before venturing into power-dependent industries like electric vehicle manufacturing.

Nigeria currently generates just over 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, far below the estimated 33,000MW required to meet the country’s industrial and domestic needs. The shortfall has long been a major impediment to economic growth, with businesses and industries forced to rely on expensive diesel-powered generators to keep operations running.

For a country aspiring to develop an EV industry, a stable power supply is non-negotiable. Electric vehicle manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and overall industrial activities require consistent and affordable electricity.

According to energy analysts, the power sector’s inefficiency has stifled industrialization, discouraged foreign investment, and increased production costs across multiple sectors. Nigeria’s struggling manufacturers cite erratic power supply as one of their biggest operational challenges, with many forced to relocate or shut down due to high energy costs. The manufacturing sector, which should be a driving force for economic development, is severely constrained by the unreliable power grid.

Against this backdrop, analysts are urging the government to seek China’s help in addressing the power crisis as a fundamental step toward achieving industrialization and supporting industries like electric vehicle production.

Energy policy experts believe that the Nigerian government must first solve the electricity problem before focusing on power-intensive industries such as electric vehicle production. They suggest that instead of requesting China’s assistance in setting up EV plants, Nigeria should engage Beijing in strategic discussions to significantly boost power generation, transmission, and distribution.

China has vast experience in large-scale power infrastructure projects, including hydroelectric, solar, and coal power plants. Many African nations, including Ethiopia and Zambia, have leveraged China’s expertise to expand their power grids.

China’s involvement in Nigeria’s power sector has been relatively limited compared to other sectors like railways and roads. Analysts believe the government should urgently request China’s assistance in building additional power plants, upgrading the national grid, and enhancing renewable energy projects.

China’s growing involvement in Nigeria’s economy is part of its broader strategy to strengthen its influence across Africa. Over the years, Beijing has heavily invested in Nigeria’s infrastructure, financing projects in transportation, industrial parks, and even the Lekki Deep Sea Port. However, its involvement in Nigeria’s power sector remains minimal despite the country’s glaring electricity challenges.

With trade between both countries surpassing $21 billion in 2024 and Nigeria’s exports to China increasing by over 25%, experts argue that a strategic partnership focusing on power generation would be far more beneficial than prioritizing EV assembly plants at this stage.

Additionally, the recent renewal of a $2 billion currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China is expected to strengthen financial cooperation and promote bilateral trade. However, without sufficient energy to power industries and boost manufacturing, Nigeria may struggle to maximize the benefits of its trade agreements with China.

While Nigeria’s push for EV assembly plants aligns with global trends in green energy and industrialization, it raises concerns about the government’s priorities.

If you studied Social Studies in junior secondary, you possibly memorized one of the advantages of partnerships. And that was – “joint hands in making management  decisions”. We memorized those without understanding the implications. Then at senior secondary, the Economics teacher  brought the concepts of division of labour and factors of production. Yes, expertise matters even at unit level but even that “risk taker” within the factors of production cannot achieve much without the “labour”. So, it comes down to building a working team in that firm.

When a company, when a society, when a family, when a nation,…work together as ONE Team, they outperform their individual best.

Usain Bolt ran the world’s best 9.58 seconds for 100 meters. But four Jamaicans ran the 4 x 100 meters relay at 36.84 seconds. If you run the numbers, each became better, running 100 meters, on average, at 9.21 seconds, when they ran together (do not go to the science of inertia and momentum). Simply, by running together, they beat the individual world’s 100 meters record.

The message: Collaborate, partner and advance together