CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo has sparked controversy over Nigeria’s visa fees, relaying the hurdles faced by travelers seeking entry into the country.
Madowo, known for his reporting across Africa, took to LinkedIn on Monday to express his dismay at the steep $215 fee for a one-month, single-entry visa.
He wrote, “Nigeria just charged me $215 for a one-month, single entry visa. Again. I was here three weeks ago – paid the same $215. This is actually my third time in Nigeria this year, so they have made $645 from me in 2024 alone.
“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of admitting someone into a country?
“How can we achieve a borderless Africa, or the promise of the AfCFTA, if we charge Africans $215 for a single-entry visa?
“In the three weeks since I was last in Lagos, I went to Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana, where I don’t need a visa with a Kenyan passport. In fact, I’ve also been to South Africa three times this year. It cost me $0, like the ancestors intended.
“Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival system is similar to the ‘visa-free’ delusion of Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation – you apply in advance, submit some documents, and wait for it to be approved. It can take up to five business days. If you know ‘someone,’ you can pay them $50 or more to ‘facilitate’ a faster approval.
“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”
