The Federal Government has returned eight foreign nationals who attempted to enter Nigeria without valid visas, warning that the country will no longer tolerate undocumented entries.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a TV interview on Sunday night. He stated that the decision was part of the government’s renewed efforts to tighten immigration control and protect Nigeria’s national security.
According to the Minister, the action followed several recent incidents where travellers arrived in the country without proper entry permits. He said the Ministry had observed a worrying trend of lax enforcement by airlines and stressed that such negligence would no longer be tolerated.
“In the past two weeks, we’ve had multiple cases of people arriving without proper documentation, and that is unacceptable,” Tunji-Ojo said during the interview.
He explained that he met with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) last Friday to discuss stricter enforcement measures. One of the key points raised was the need for airlines to verify the visa status of passengers before boarding.
“Just as I told the Airline Operators of Nigeria, the era of bringing people into Nigeria without visas is over,” he warned.
The Minister made it clear that airlines would be held responsible for any future violations. He compared the situation with stricter immigration enforcement in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where travellers cannot board a flight without valid visas.
“You can’t travel to the U.S. or the U.K. without a visa—no airline will carry you. Why should Nigeria be any different? This is not a dumping ground,” he said firmly.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted that Nigeria is a sovereign nation with laws that must be respected. He stated that the country’s borders would no longer be open to undocumented travelers, stressing that a visa is a prerequisite for entry.
“We’ve already returned several individuals. Last week alone, we turned back more than six, seven, eight people. Airlines that bring them must return them. A visa is the authorization to enter Nigeria. Without it, you will not be allowed in,” he stated.
The Minister also said that the government is committed to strengthening its immigration policies as part of broader efforts to safeguard national security and ensure proper documentation of all individuals entering or leaving the country.
This move comes at a time when Nigeria is reviewing its immigration procedures amid growing concerns over transnational crime, irregular migration, and national security threats. The new enforcement measures signal the government’s seriousness in upholding border control and immigration standards.
