Following the Federal Government’s directive on the 23rd of March, 2020, to restrict international flights into and out of Nigeria in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Interior on the 6th of April 2020, has issued a notice that it will extend at no cost, visitors’ visas and resident permits of foreigners whose visas or resident permits expire during the period of the international travel ban.
Affected foreigners will have a week to reschedule their flights and travel out of Nigeria after the restriction on international travel is lifted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Any foreigner who fails to leave the country within the one-week grace period, after the travel ban is lifted will pay the prescribed penalty fees for overstay before they are allowed to leave the country. The extension will not apply to foreigners whose visas or resident permits expired before the international flights ban and the prescribed penalty fees must be paid.
The directive of the Minister is a welcome initiative in view of the uncertainty regarding the renewal of visas/ resident permits which expire during the lockdown imposed on the 30th of March, 2020, restricting business operations and movement in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (“FCT”), Abuja, for an initial period of fourteen (14) days which has now been extended for a further fourteen (14) days from April 13, 2020.
