Turkey Clarifies Visa Regulations
Turkey Embassy in Nigeria confirmed there is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders. This announcement dispels recent visa ban reports suggesting Ethiopia, Turkey, and the UAE had revoked certain visa privileges for Nigerians, such as visa-on-arrival and e-visas.
Changes in E-Visa Policy
Although Turkey no longer offers e-visas to Nigerians, the embassy clarified that this does not equate to a visa ban. Wunmi Evelyn, the Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador, emphasised that any updates on visa rules are officially communicated to foreign ministries.
Case-by-Case Visa Evaluation
Visa applications are assessed individually. Evelyn explained that applicants previously denied visas should address errors in their initial applications, avoid using outdated documents, and improve their application quality.
Nigeria’s Passport Ranking
The Henley Passport Index recently ranked Nigeria’s passport among the world’s least powerful. Nigeria holds the 90th position globally, with visa-free access to just 46 out of 227 destinations. This ranking highlights the limited travel freedom for Nigerian passport holders, contrasting sharply with more powerful passports that offer greater mobility. Despite being Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria’s passport strength remains low, emphasizing the need for improved international relations and visa agreements to enhance travel opportunities for its citizens.
Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Response
Ambassador Eche Abu-Ode of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the issue and promised to provide further information. As of the report’s filing, he had not yet responded.
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