Nigeria grants 30-day visa-free entry for Rwandan citizens

The Nigerian government has announced a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Rwandan nationals as part of efforts to expand travel access between the two nations.

In a statement released on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, said all arrangements for implementation have been completed following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

On Wednesday, Tinubu arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO Forum, which officially began on Thursday.

Before the event kicked off, the Nigerian leader met with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

The 30-day visa-free status was approved to reciprocate a similar gesture previously extended to Nigerians by the Rwandan government in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

“Under this bilateral arrangement, Rwandan nationals may enter Nigeria without a visa for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days for lawful purposes, including tourism, business, and official engagements.

However, individuals seeking to remain in Nigeria beyond the approved 30-day period will be required to obtain the appropriate visa through a Nigerian Embassy, High Commission abroad, or the Nigeria e-Visa channel,” the Nigeria Immigration Service stated.

Consequently, all international entry points including airports, land borders, and seaports have been directed to commence immediate implementation of the policy in line with the presidential directive.

The Service underscored that the initiative reflects the strong diplomatic and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda while promoting intra-African mobility, tourism, and economic cooperation in line with continental aspirations.

It further expressed a commitment to facilitating safe, orderly, and lawful migration in accordance with international best practices.