By Joel Ajayi
The Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, has urged the foreign community to remain calm following the recent cancellation of the Visa on Arrival (VOA) policy. She assured that her office is actively working to address the concerns surrounding the decision.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 24, and made available to this medium, Princess Audu emphasized that the primary objective is to enhance security while maintaining the VOA policy, which has played a crucial role in fostering tourism, trade, and investment in Nigeria.
“Our primary objective is to strengthen security around the VOA process while maintaining the policy, which has been instrumental in promoting tourism, trade, and investment in Nigeria. We believe that through collaboration and dialogue, we can address the security concerns identified and establish a secure and efficient VOA process that benefits all parties involved.
“PEBEC has a proven track record of implementing reforms to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria. We have introduced various initiatives to streamline procedures, eliminate bottlenecks, and create a more business-friendly environment.
“We urge the foreign community to remain calm and trust our ability to resolve this issue. We remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria remains an attractive destination for investors, tourists, and businesses alike,” the statement read.
It will be recalled that Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, recently announced the cancellation of the VOA policy, which previously allowed nationals of certain West African countries to obtain visas upon arrival in Nigeria. The decision was attributed to ongoing security challenges, despite sustained efforts by the Federal Government to curb them.
However, Princess Audu reassured stakeholders that PEBEC understands the concerns raised by the foreign community and is actively engaging with the Minister of Interior to find a balanced solution.
