MUHAMMAD Babandede, Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has revealed that Nigeria will soon commence issuance of its electronic visa in a move that is expected to boost the economic position of the country through foreign investments.

The Comptroller General was quoted by the Punch during a 2019 award dinner in Abuja organised to recognise exemplary contributions of members in the service to have said the unveiling of the e-visa will be done by the Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbasola before the end of the year.

“The e-visa policy will encourage investors to Nigeria thereby generating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Nigeria and making Nigeria a most preferred destination through transparency in administration and facilitation of facilities by service,”Babandede said.

“I assure you that it will be transparent and we will remove cash payment and ensure no security is compromised. It is a balance between facilitation, transparency and protection of national security.”

He reassured the public of the service commitment to ensuring that the country’s borders will be protected especially in 2020.

“As you are aware, we are a regimented institution. We have done all we can in 2019 by dismissing officers for corruption, absenteeism, reduction of ranks of officers and investigating those who took money from applicants or ordinary Nigerians illegally, the NIS Comptroller General.

“So having worked tirelessly, we should dedicate a day to commend those who have served well and this would also serve as an example to others so they can follow the part.

“Governance is not about punishing people every day. It is also about rewarding and bridging gaps between officers and men by coming together dining, dancing and rejoicing,” he said of the award ceremony.

Recall that in a previous report by The ICIR, Nigeria was not among the top 20 African countries in the   2019 Africa Visa Openness Index published by the African Union Commission and African Development Bank.

Mauritania in North Africa topped the list while in West Africa were Benin, Cabon Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Togo.

Nigeria ranked 30th among other African nations on the index placing it way below other leading countries in the region.