Nigeria: No Visa Restrictions On Nigerians - South African Envoy

What the report says

South Africa’s Consulate in Lagos has rejected reports that it stopped issuing visas to Nigerians amid anti-migrant protests in South Africa, according to Vanguard, republished by AllAfrica. The clarification was given by Prof. Bobby Moroe, South Africa’s Consul General in Lagos, during a round-table hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on South Africa’s xenophobia in comparative perspective.

Moroe said visa applications from Nigerians were still being processed and that applicants who meet the requirements are not being turned away because of the protests. He stressed that any refusal would be tied to eligibility under visa rules, not nationality. The remarks were aimed at easing concern among Nigerian travellers and addressing speculation that the unrest in South Africa had affected consular services.

He also highlighted South Africa’s recently introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation system, which he said is intended to streamline travel approval and reduce documentation in parts of the application process. The system allows some applicants to apply digitally, including through mobile devices, and is meant to make travel procedures faster and more convenient. The development matters because Nigeria and South Africa have significant people-to-people, business and tourism ties, and any perceived visa disruption can affect mobility between the two countries.