The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has implemented procedures for international flights resumption and visa payment, the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has announced.
Babandede made this disclosure during a virtual meeting with stakeholders to address travel concerns and automation of Travel Work Permit on Wednesday in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Mr Sunday James, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Babandede said the procedures were in line with Federal Government’s approval for the commencement of international flight operations from September 5.
According to Babandede, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were earlier approved by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for the implementation.
This, he said, was with the vide letter Ref. No. MI/PM/16012/S.366/Vol.ll/ dated 6th April, 2020, on waiver for visa payment due to COVID-19, closure of land borders, and suspension of international flights.
The NIS, according to him, Â in exercising its statutory mandate, wishes to implement as follow:
All migrants in Nigeria whose permits expired from 23rd March to 5th September, 2020 have extension.
All migrants with evidence of confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out of the country were to be issued free extensions to enable them depart on or before 15th September, 2020.
All migrants whose permit or visitor’s pass expired before 23rd March, 2020 will pay overstay penalty for the number of days stayed before the lockdown on 23rd March, 2020.
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All resident migrants whose permits expired outside the country from 23rd March, 2020 shall be allowed entry into Nigeria with the expired permits on or before 25th September, 2020.
Such returning holders of expired permits and their dependents are to renew the permits within 30 days of arrival to Nigeria to avoid sanctions under relevant Immigration laws.
All migrants who processed payments for visa-on-arrival and other categories of visas from the Nigerian Missions before 23rd March 2020, are to apply for re-validation.
This should be done by uploading copy of the previous payments via cis-evisa@immigration.gov.ng not later than 15th September, 2020.
