The federal government has announced the introduction of automated landing and exit cards aimed at checkmating foreigners who travelled in and out of the country as part of a broader e-Visa solutions.
The automated landing and exit card is designed to eliminate travel bottlenecks while ensuring national security.
This was announced during a joint briefing in Abuja by the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday.
The ministers said that the collaboration between their ministries and key agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), will ensure the smooth take-off of the e-visa solutions on May 1, 2025.
Speaking at the event, Keyamo said: “What we are doing here today is a further testament to the determination of this government to foster cooperation between key ministries that have mandates that overlap.
“Today is another example of that kind of cooperation and collaboration, and this has to do with the introduction of the e-visa.”
Also, speaking at the event, Minister of Interior Tunji-Ojo said: “This initiative has a very serious effect on our national security architecture. Prior to now, we have always had the exit and landing card in a manual way, travellers had to fill a paper form. But now the narrative has changed with the introduction of e-visa and automated exit and entry cards.
“Nigeria is a country of 230 million brilliant people and we have to lead in terms of technology and in view of that, we are automating the visa process and it takes effect from the 1st of May, 2025. So, the landing and exit card will be filled online before you board and presented to airlines before you can be boarded. So, that responsibility of coordinating and issuing regulation to the airline lies on the NCAA. This shows our commitment to the protection of our country, to border security, and to ensure that our sovereignty as a nation is well respected.
“Outside that, we will also be introducing some other measures to explain more explicitly. The e-Visa will make it easier for people to come into Nigeria while enhancing the security of our country.”
