The Nigerian government has disclosed that starting May 1, 2025, all landing and exit cards for foreigners arriving in or departing from Nigeria will be automated to enhance border security and simplify immigration procedures.
With this new automation, foreigners must complete the forms online before boarding flights to or from Nigeria.
During a joint press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, shared this information alongside the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
Tunji-Ojo said that the new system will incur no charges and is intended solely to bolster national security and improve data management. He added that to facilitate a smooth implementation, both ministries have agreed to establish a collaborative team of officials from the NCAA and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“There is already a centralised visa approval centre at the immigration headquarters. Officers have been trained, equipped, and the system is integrated with major global criminal databases, including Interpol.
“This will allow for better background checks for those entering Nigeria. The landing and exit cards are free. No one is paying for them. It’s purely for security and record-keeping purposes.” He said.
The minister also indicated that this team must complete the regulatory protocols and implementation frameworks within one week.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, elaborated on how the automated system will operate. He said that when arriving in Nigeria, a foreigner’s entry card, which was filled out online, would be verified against their passport number. The same verification will occur for the exit card during departure.
He pointed out that repercussions for infractions could include fines, visa revocation, or being banned from entering Nigeria for up to ten years.
