The federal government has vowed to slam the retaliation method on any country that delay visa issuance to Nigerians without cogent reasons.
This was outcome of a meeting held yesterday by top government officials.
In attendance were Interior Minister, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede.
Dambazau said that the delay in the issuance of visa to Nigerians was becoming an embarrassment and must be resolved.
“It is embarrassing that one will want visa and will have unnecessary delay from the issuance countries.
“We as a country needs to take our stand; we should deal with any country the way they deal with us on visa issuance.
“They should not think that we need them more than they need us,” Dambazau fumed.
Babandede said: “What we are saying is that we as a country, we would also like to retaliate.
“Anybody who delays visa for our nationals, we would also do the same as a country because we have a pride as a nation.”
The Comptroller-General added that Nigeria was committed to ensuring that business was done normally with friends of the country.
“We are committed to issue visa to our friends on time and passport to our nationals wherever they are”.
Onyeama disclosed that the parley was to find solutions to the visa challenges Nigerians were facing.
“As part of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, the issue, as you know, some of the deliverables are there and it is for consular services that we also have to work hard together.
“So, we have always felt that we should all try and be speaking to each other.
“The Ministry of Interior, Immigration Services and ourselves, our embassies and missions and consulates are all working other one roof,” he said.
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