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Thursday, December 12, 2019 / 08:33 AM / by Salome Nuhu of Premium Times / Header Image Credit: @AswanForum
Other Africans travelling to Nigeria will from
January 2020 be able to get their visas at the point of entry.
This
was stated by President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday at the Aswan Forum for
Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa, holding in Egypt.
"We
in Nigeria have already taken the strategic decision to bring down barriers
that have hindered the free movement of our people within the continent by
introducing the issuance of visa at the point of entry into Nigeria to all
persons holding passports of African countries with effect from January,
2020".
The
Nigerian government last year announced visa on arrival policy for selected
categories of people.
Over 2,000 of
such visas were given to potential investors at Nigeria's main airport in Lagos
in July, an official said.
The
government has also been considering new types of visas for applicants.
In his
speech at the Egypt event, the Nigerian leader emphasised the need to resolve
conflicts across Africa.
"As
Africans it is important to focus on the issues of conflict prevention and
resolution. Conflicts have devastating effects on our societies and they
militate against our progress. In this regard, the need to silence the guns
cannot be overemphasized," he said.
Read a
full statement by the presidency containing Mr Buhari's speech at the event
below.
The
Nexus Between Peace And Development, By President Buhari At Aswan Forum
President
Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the resolution of conflict situations in
African countries remains a key component in the overall development of the
continent.
Speaking
Wednesday during the opening session of the ongoing Aswan Forum for Sustainable
Peace and Development in Africa, taking place in the Egyptian town, the
President said: "As Africans it is important to focus on the issues of
conflict prevention and resolution. Conflicts have devastating effects on our
societies and they militate against our progress. In this regard, the need to
silence the guns cannot be overemphasized".
President
Buhari equally emphasized that massive investment in transportation
infrastructure was necessary for African economic resurgence as this would
facilitate the African Free Trade Area Agreement recently signed on by the
continental leaders.
"Africa
should embark on the provision of transport connectivity by enhancing the
development of roads, rail, and air links which will ease the free movement of
persons, goods and services within the continent. In this regard, we in Nigeria
have already commenced an aggressive drive
to upgrade our rail transport system and road networks across the country.
"We
should furthermore promote free trade within and amongst Africa and Africans
especially now that we have launched the African Free Trade Area
Agreement," he said.
In
order to realize its Pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and
peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in
the global arena, President Buhari declared: "We in Nigeria have already
taken the strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered the free
movement of our people within the continent by introducing the issuance of visa
at the point of entry into Nigeria to all persons holding passports of African
countries with effect from January, 2020".
The
Nigerian leader also stated that Africa must take its destiny in its own hands
by minimizing reliance on donor funding for the execution of its vital peace,
security and development agenda. According to him, "Nigeria is not only
host to our sub regional body ECOWAS but has also been supporting substantially
the ECOWAS budget up to about 60 percent.
"Nigeria
has been funding by almost a 100 percent the operations of the Multinational
Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fighting Boko Haram Terrorists in the Lake Chad
Basin".
President
Buhari also harped on the fight against corruption and inclusive growth:
"The menace of corruption undermines our efforts to achieve sustainable
development and realize the goals of the AU Agenda 2063. It is also important
to attach great priority to the promotion of good and inclusive governance as
we equally strive to empower our women and youth".
The
President once again used the opportunity to draw global attention to the
recession of the Lake Chad and its attendant economic consequences for the
region.
"The
issue of climate change should be given the due attention that it deserves. The
effects of Climate Change are at the root of some of the conflicts in parts of
the continent. This is why we must focus on the issue of the recharging of the
Lake Chad which used to provide livelihood to over forty million people in the
region. It is difficult to expect durable stability in the region without
restoration of the shrinking lake.
He
urged African leaders to see education as a key tool for the transformation and
repositioning of our continent, saying, "Africa would need to heavily
invest in education and capacity building. Education creates opportunities and
holds the key for a better and prosperous future of our people".
The President
added that his administration was, "pursuing the diversification of our
economy through the development of agriculture and mineral resources, the
promotion of manufacturing sector and the creation of job opportunities for our
teeming youths. By so doing, we will also discourage the irregular migration of
our youth out of the Continent through dangerous journeys".
Credit:
The post All
Africans travelling to Nigeria can get visa on arrival from 2019 first
appeared in Premium Times on December 11, 2019
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