By Mayowa Olumuyiwa
Since the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic found its entry into Nigeria, situations in the aviation industry and immigration authorities have never been the same, especially for international travellers and investors home and abroad who are still counting their ever-mounting losses.
In a bid to cushion the adverse effect and huge loss suffered by migrants and travellers affected by the travel ban imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Nigeria Immigration Service has made public a directive of the Minister of Interior on behalf of the Federal Government approving waivers of some payments by visitors and migrants affected by the travel ban and closure of international borders.
The circular dated April 8, 2020, was released in the letterhead of the office of the Nigeria Immigration’s Deputy Comptroller General.
The one-page circular referenced NIS/HQ/CGI/VOA/409/64 highlights the approval of the waiver as approved by the Nigerian Minister of Interior in the following order under items 2 and 3 respectively:
“All Visitors/Migrants holding valid visitor’s pass/resident permit with confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out within the period of travel restriction are to be issued with relevant extensions at NO COST to the beneficiaries to reschedule their flights and travel within a week of the suspension of the embargo
“However, Migrants whose permits/visitor’s pass expired before the Airport closure MUST be made to pay overstay penalty for the number of days before travel restriction.”
The document closes with the caption, “Ensure strict compliance please.”
and signed by Assistant Comptroller General (Visa and Residency), V. E. Isangedighi for the Comptroller General of Immigration Service.
With this new FG waiver for affected travellers, it is hoped that the concerned individuals will at least find some relief amidst other far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, certain concerns come to mind as regards the means deployed in the implementation of this lofty initiative.
Observers in the sector have started to issue cautionary notes to all concerned.
Some anti-corruption advocates recall that similar measures by the Nigerian government in times past in immigration management and other waivers in trade, investment and other sectors had been fraught with lots of imbalance, unauthorised expansion, misuse of discretion, inducement and lack of due process.
Clarifying the purpose of the waiver, immigration law practitioners interviewed by kAFTANPost are unanimous in noting that in its straightforward and natural interpretation, the initiative is not essentially to give money to affected travellers but to ease their burden by setting aside payment of huge sums in fees and fines which would have been payable by the stranded visitors for delayed departures, expired visas, overdue permits, stalled or outdated immigration applications and other travelling documents as a result of the pandemic and governmental actions leading to the cancellation of international travels.
Hence, it is pertinent to ensure that only those categories of innocent travellers stranded by the outbreak of COVID-19 and the consequent travel ban should be the prioritised beneficiaries.
The waiver should not be compromised nor abused to benefit corrupt motives and violators of the nation’s immigration laws under any guise.
In a typical case where a foreigner overstays or unable to conclude the application process, it will be fair and reasonable to have their fines or late application fees revoked as the case may demand.
Nigerians stranded abroad too should expect to benefit from reciprocal relief measures adopted by immigration authorities of their host countries.
The whole waiver initiative is expected to tell on our sincerity and accountability as a working system.
Having done these, then we stand a chance to have the Nigerian people and the international community start to genuinely repose the much-needed confidence in the country’s public sector.
All hands must be on deck to ensure that this is not hijacked to favour unlawful persons who often evade immigration laws over the affected innocent travellers.
