By Olukayode Idowu
The Federal Government has directed the management of Ministry of Interior and the agencies within the ministry to upload Nigeria visa policies on their websites.
The instruction was given on Tuesday by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while unveiling the revised edition of 2022 Handbook on Expatriate Quota Administration in Nigeria.
He ordered the management of the ministry and Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately upload the Nigeria visa policy on the portal of their websites for easy access across the globe.
Aregbosola reiterated that the necessity for the review of the handbook was hinged on need for the policy to align with current reality in technology and acceptable norms in the conduct of business world over. He revealed that the ministry has issued 13,829 expatriate quota permit and 1,161 business permits in the period under review.
The Minister noted that the revised handbook would put an end to the rot in expatriate quota administration in Nigeria, while stating that the 2004 edition lacks standard, noting that this revised edition prepared by stakeholders robustly addresses the noted inadequacies.
The Minister assured that the 2022 revised handbook on expatriate quota administration contains adequate rules and regulations to prevent abuses from foreigners and locals in the business permit process. This will in turn enhance the ‘ease of doing business’ presidential directive and improve the country’s economy as enunciated in the policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
In his welcome address the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the Ministry of Interior is responsible for the administration and technical enforcement of Nigeria Immigration Act, 2015 and Immigration Regulations, 2017 as it relates to the establishment of business in Nigeria, either wholly foreign owned or joint venture companies and the employment of expatriates as well as training of Nigerians on essential skills.
The Permanent Secretary commended stakeholders involved in the production of the revised handbook. Dignitaries at the event includes representatives of the Permanent Secretaries to Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Mines and Steel and other stakeholders in the expatriate quota administration.