The Federal Government has launched a new phase of migration reforms with the rollout of an electronic visa regime and a centralised expatriate management platform, in a move aimed at strengthening border security, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, and enhancing Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the initiative on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mohammed Bello Shehu, during a high-level visit to the ministry.
Tunji-Ojo said the reforms are part of a broader effort to modernise Nigeria’s migration architecture through technology-driven systems that promote transparency, improve regulatory compliance, and support economic growth without compromising national security.
“We are building a migration system that is efficient, transparent, and aligned with Nigeria’s economic priorities, while maintaining the highest standards of national security,” he said.
At the centre of the reforms is a fully digital visa system enabling end-to-end processing—from application to approval—designed to reduce delays that have historically constrained travel and investment inflows. The system also features secure QR-coded visas to strengthen verification procedures at entry points.
Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly shorten processing timelines, minimise manual interference, and improve Nigeria’s global competitiveness in attracting business travellers and foreign investors.
In a complementary measure, the ministry has deployed a centralised digital platform to manage the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and expatriate quota approvals. The platform integrates directly with the Nigeria Immigration Service, enabling real-time data exchange and tighter monitoring of expatriate activities.
According to the minister, the system eliminates the role of unauthorised intermediaries and introduces a transparent, traceable framework for processing applications.
“For too long, inefficiencies and opaque processes created loopholes. What we have done is to close those gaps and ensure that every stage of migration management is accountable,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that while the government is pursuing investor-friendly policies, issues relating to citizenship remain governed by constitutional provisions, noting that any residency-by-investment schemes would operate strictly within existing legal frameworks.
He also underscored the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, stating that effective coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies is critical to achieving policy outcomes in border management, revenue generation and investment facilitation.
Responding, Shehu said the commission’s engagement aligns with its mandate to ensure that all revenues due to the federation are properly accounted for and remitted.
“The Commission is committed to strengthening oversight of revenue-generating agencies and ensuring alignment across institutions,” he said.
He commended the Ministry of Interior for reforms already yielding improvements in revenue inflows and operational efficiency, noting that strengthened migration systems have implications for both national security and fiscal performance.
Also speaking, Federal Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission’s Investment Monitoring Committee, Enefe Ekene, said the visit was aimed at fostering strategic collaboration, particularly in areas such as citizenship-by-investment frameworks and the protection of key sectors, including solid minerals.
“The goal is to ensure that government investments and policies are effectively aligned to attract foreign direct investment while maintaining regulatory integrity,” he said.
Industry observers say the reforms come at a critical juncture, as Nigeria seeks to balance stricter border controls with openness to global capital and talent. Analysts have long identified inefficiencies in visa processing and expatriate management as barriers to investment.
With the deployment of the new systems, officials say the government is repositioning migration management as a key pillar of its broader economic strategy, leveraging technology to enhance both security oversight and ease of doing business.
