The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has canvassed support for the Federal Government and other stakeholders, including the Organised Private Sector (OPS) of Nigeria, on the implementation of expatriate reforms.
Director-General of NECA, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, stated this during a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue titled “Sensitisation on the New Expatriate Administration and Other Reforms” held at the NECA House Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Smatt-Oyerinde noted that the global interest in rising nationalism and the growing emphasis on homeland security, had underscored the need to align Nigeria’s expatriate and immigration systems with global best practices.
He described the ministry’s ongoing reforms as highly impactful and commendable, emphasising that the sensitisation session serves as an opportunity for stakeholders to gain clarity directly from the source.
“The reforms we are witnessing—particularly at our airports and immigration offices—are visible and valuable. These initiatives are simplifying processes not only for expatriates but also for Nigerians. We appreciate the ministry’s decision to provide a three-month moratorium to allow organisations to align with the new policies before full enforcement begins on August 1, 2025.” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in his keynote address, stressed the crucial role of regulatory alignment for all business operations within the country, saying that the government would be rolling out several initiatives of the ministry’s reform agenda effective May 1, 2025, with a three-month moratorium to enable proper adjustment and compliance.
Tunji-Ojo said that the visa-on-arrival processes had been upgraded to eliminate cases of fake visas, adding that a Centralised Interior and Management System (CIMAS) has been launched to enhance coordination and transparency across all processes.
The minister said that reforms introduced include the Electronic Certificate of Expatriate Quota and Residence Permit Application (E-CERPAC), which allows for seamless application and payment through the Nigeria Immigration Service’s website, with virtual cards sent directly to applicants via email.
Other key reforms, according to him, include improvement to the expatriate understudy framework, Business Permits, Temporary Work Permits (TWP), the introduction of expatriate comprehensive insurance covering arrival to exit, and the e-visa, which guarantees visa issuance within 48 hours.
