Freedom advocacy groups, including civil society members and media workers, are calling on Nigeria to allow citizens from African Union member states to enter without visas.
They believe that Nigeria's strict visa rules hurt its economy and its influence in Africa. They want easier travel to help boost tourism, investment, and trade.
This call was made at the Conference of Freedom Advocates (CFA) 2026 in Abuja on Saturday. The Liberalist Centre organized the event with help from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), BudgIT, and 3rd Eye TV, funded by Atlas Network.
Johnson Sanni, the chief operating officer of Liberalist Centre, said the conference, themed “ADVANCE”, aimed to promote freedom, new ideas, and leadership driven by citizens.
He emphasized the importance of protecting individual rights, upholding the law, and letting citizens chase opportunities and shape their futures.
Call for a visa-free Nigeria
During a panel discussion titled “The Case for a Visa-free Nigeria”, speakers pointed out that Nigeria's strict visa policy weakens its role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The discussion included Abdullah Tijani, a journalist and executive director of The Liberalist; Chike Donald, executive director of Simplefix Nigeria; and Tolulope Gbenro, president of Grow with D Oracle Empowerment Foundation.
They questioned why visas are used as a way for the government to make money. They believe that allowing business travel, conferences, and other economic activities to happen more freely would bring greater benefits.
They referred to the Henley Passport Index to show the unfairness in international travel access. The July 2026 edition ranked Nigeria’s passport 90th out of 199 passports. It also showed that Nigerian passport holders could go to only 44 places without needing a visa in advance.
Facts about Nigeria’s visa openness showed that many fewer nationalities can enter Nigeria without visas than the number of places Nigerians can go to under similar rules abroad.
The speakers highlighted tourism, investment, and trade as areas that could improve with easier border movement. They mentioned that tourism makes up only about three percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
They urged Nigeria to focus on African countries first before giving visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to others. They called for mutual arrangements between African nations, pointing to Kenya and Rwanda as examples of countries that made it easier for other Africans to enter.
They argued that Nigeria has been slow to respond and has made it harder for some nationalities, like South Africans, to enter.
They also questioned the security reasons behind strict visa rules. They said that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping mainly come from weak land borders and local recruitment, not from visitors coming through Lagos and Abuja airports.
To improve security, they suggested using modern screening methods, like biometric checks and advance passenger information, at key entry points. They insisted that visa restrictions should not be Nigeria’s main way to keep safe.
“Openness brings more openness,” they said. They added that countries that let in more visitors easily are in a better position to secure easier travel for their own citizens.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇