The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has officially stated that there is no current visa ban for Nigerian passport holders, contrary to concerning reports.
On Thursday, there were claims suggesting that Nigeria had faced restrictions from Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, impacting privileges such as visa-on-arrival, e-visa applications, and passport issuances.
Specifically, Turkish authorities have ceased issuing e-visas to Nigerian passport holders, previously accessible without difficulty.
Wunmi Evelyn, Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, clarified to reporters, “There is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders.”
She emphasised that any updates to visa policies are formally communicated through foreign ministries, with announcements made by embassies.
Evelyn elaborated that visa applications undergo individual assessment, addressing cases where applicants may have encountered refusals.
She noted, “Each application is considered on its merits. Applicants previously denied visas are advised to rectify errors in their initial submissions, enhance their application quality, and update required documentation with current versions.”
These developments coincide with Nigeria’s passport ranking poorly on the Henley Passport Index, with 2023 data placing it 90th globally, providing visa-free access to just 46 out of 227 destinations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Amb. Eche Abu-Ode, has not yet issued an official statement regarding this matter.
