Renowned CNN journalist and media personality Larry Madowo has raised concerns regarding the visa charges imposed by Nigeria.
Taking to his X handle, Madowo expressed his frustrations over being charged $215 (Ksh27,950) for a 1-month, single-entry visa, during his third visit to the country in 2024.
“Nigeria just charged me $215 for a 1-month single-entry visa. Again. I was here 3 weeks ago – paid the same $215. This is actually my 3rd time in Nigeria this year, so they have made $645 from me in 2024 alone,” Madowo wrote on his platform.
Madowo questioned the rationale behind charging for biometric data collection, pointing out that his fingerprints remain unchanged since his previous visit a mere three weeks ago.
Madowo Reveals Extra Visa Charges
Further, Madowo pointed out that while the visa itself costs $25 (Ksh3,250), additional fees include a $20 (Ksh2,600) “processing fee” and another $170 (Ksh22,100) for biometrics, which he deemed unnecessary since his fingerprints had not changed since his previous visit.
“The visa itself costs $25 but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here 3 weeks ago, why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of admitting someone into a country?” questioned Madowo.
Madowo also raised concerns about the implications of such high visa charges on the vision of a borderless Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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He pointed out that such barriers hinder intra-African travel and trade.
“How can we achieve a borderless Africa, or the promise of the AfCFTA, if we charge Africans $215 for a single-entry visa?” Madowo posted.
His post draws attention to the broader implications of visa policies on regional integration and economic development even as African countries mull over the issue of travelling without visas.
Disparities Over Africa Visa Policies
Reflecting on his experiences in other African countries, Madowo explained the stark contrast in visa policies.
Notably, he mentioned that with his Kenyan passport, he traveled to Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana without incurring any visa fees, illustrating the disparity in visa regulations across the continent.
“In the 3 weeks since I was last in Lagos, I went to Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana where I don’t need a visa with a Kenyan passport. In fact, I’ve also been to South Africa 3 times this year. It cost me $0, like the ancestors intended,” said Madowo.
Madowo further critiqued Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival system, likening it to Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) process, which he described as a “delusion.”
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Consequently, Madowo stated the bureaucratic hurdles and the potential avenues for corruption, where individuals may pay extra to expedite the approval process.
“Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival system is similar to the ‘visa-free’ delusion of Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorization – you apply in advance, submit some documents and wait for it to be approved. It can take up to 5 business days. If you know ‘someone,’ you can pay them $50 or more to ‘facilitate’ a faster approval,” lamented Madowo.
