Nigerians traveling to Zambia will henceforth need an entry visa into the country following a new order that excludes Nigeria among the African and Commonwealth countries that do not require visa to enter the country.
As a rule, Nigerians should obtain Zambian visa at the point of entry into the country but recent development indicate that Zambian authorities have changed their immigration rules on free visa application requirements for Nigerians.
Presently, the new law requires that even for just passing through, Nigerians should apply for transit visas from Zambian Missions abroad.
Reports has it that the move by Zambia seems to stem from an incident in December last year when Nigerian businessmen were deported on the orders of then new president Michael Sata for allegedly supporting the then ruling party MMD.
The country said in its website that Nigerian nationals and some others going to Zambia as private/ business visitors or in transit shall apply for visas at Zambian Missions abroad.
The country said in its website that Nigerian nationals and some others going to Zambia as private/ business visitors or in transit shall apply for visas at Zambian Missions abroad.
The statement on the Zambia Immigration website reads:
‘Nationals of all Commonwealth countries do not require visas to enter Zambia EXCEPT for those nationals from Australia, Britain, Canada, Gambia, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Sri-Lanka who need visas on a reciprocal basis’
This has always been the case with all the countries except Nigeria which was included to the list last month.
The change in visa requirement came to public notice when some Nigerian journalists failed to travel to Zambia for the CNNMultiChoice media wards held in Lusaka.
On realizing the Zambian stance on Nigeria, some delegates and officials including the Editor of Daily Independent, Ikechukwu Amaechi billed to attend the CNN/MultiChoice 2012 African Journalist award held in that country for the first time last weekend and who did not start their visa application early stayed back.
On realizing the Zambian stance on Nigeria, some delegates and officials including the Editor of Daily Independent, Ikechukwu Amaechi billed to attend the CNN/MultiChoice 2012 African Journalist award held in that country for the first time last weekend and who did not start their visa application early stayed back.
One wonders how the Nigerian government will react to this development.
Recently there was a diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, as some Nigerians were deported on the excuse of fake yellow fever documents. Nigeria retaliated blocking all South Africans from entering Nigeria. South Africa apologised and the situation was normalised.
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