In a sweeping reform targeting immigration irregularities, the Nigerian government has introduced a new system that will penalize visa overstayers and overhaul expatriate administration through digitization.
The initiative, which includes a daily fine of $15 for overstaying and entry bans of up to 10 years, is aimed at tightening immigration control and ensuring accurate records of foreign nationals residing in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the changes during a stakeholder meeting in Lagos, where he emphasised the urgency of curbing abuse of Nigeria’s visa system. Under the new rules, those who overstay their visa by six months risk a five-year ban, while a one-year overstay attracts a decade-long ban.
With a three-month grace period before enforcement begins in August, the reforms, set to take effect from May 1, will also see the launch of an Electronic Visa (e-visa) system, a digitised Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Alien Card (CERPAC), and a compulsory annual expatriate insurance scheme.
The move is part of broader efforts to modernise immigration processes, reduce bureaucratic corruption, and improve national security by integrating databases with Interpol for better tracking of foreign nationals. Employers will also be held liable for immigration breaches committed by their foreign staff.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that Nigeria, with its vast human capital, can no longer afford outdated paper-based systems. “We’re not just closing loopholes — we’re opening up Nigeria to responsible global partnerships,” he said.
