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Visa-on-arrival: Senate Summon Buhari’s Minister, Immigration Boss

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Senate Under My Watch Was Not A Rubber Stamp - Lawan

The Nigeria Senate has summoned the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service over the visa-on-arrival policy of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Red Chambers asked the duo to appear before its Committee on Interior, Judiciary and Legal matters to explain the legal, logistics and constitutional issues available and required for compliance before the implementation of the policy.

Naija News reports that Buhari had announced the country will begin issuing visas on arrival for all African nationals as from 2020.

Buhari made the promise at the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa, holding in Egypt.

The change in visa policy by Nigeria comes on back of the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, a treaty seeking to establish a continent-wide marketplace with increased trade and freer movement among its major pillars.

Reacting on Tuesday, the Senate described the policy as premature, considering the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

In a motion during plenary, Senator Adewunmi Adetunbi said neither the executive nor a member of the National Assembly had submitted a bill for the domestication of the said African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

According to the lawmaker, the bill was a necessary prerequisite before the policy’s implementation.

Adding his voice, Minority Leader Eyinnaya Abaribe said Nigerians are concerned about the visa-on-arrival policy due to rising cases of insecurity in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Senate President Ahmad Lawan asked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to send treaties signed by Nigeria to the National Assembly in order to give them the required legal backing.