The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has implemented procedures for international flights resumption and visa payment.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede said this during a virtual meeting with stakeholders to address travel concerns and automation of Travel Work Permit (TWP) on Wednesday in Abuja.
In a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, Babandede said that the procedures were in line with Federal Government’s approval to commence international flight operations from Sept. 5.
Babandede said that Murtala Mohammed International Airports (MMIA) Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airports (NAIA) Abuja were earlier approved by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the implementation.
This he said, was with the vide letter Ref. No. MI/PM/16012/S.366/Vol.ll/ dated 6th April, 2020 on the waiver for visa payment due to COVID-19, closure of land borders and suspension of international flights.
According to him, the service in exercise of its statutory mandate wish to implement as follows.
“All migrants in Nigeria whose permits expired from 23rd March to 5th September, 2020 have extension. All migrants with evidence of confirmed return tickets scheduled to travel out of the country were to be issued with free extensions to enable them depart on or before 15th September, 2020.
“All Migrants whose permit or visitor’s pass expired before 23rd March, 2020 would pay overstay penalty for the number of days stayed before the lockdown on 23rd March, 2020,” it said.