The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has dispelled rumors of a visa ban for Nigerian passport holders. Amidst circulating reports suggesting that Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates had imposed restrictions on Nigerian travelers, the embassy has stepped forward to clarify the situation.
On Thursday, speculation was rife with the notion that these countries had rescinded privileges such as visa-on-arrival and e-visa for Nigerian passport holders, with Turkey allegedly halting its e-visa service which was known for its convenience.
Addressing the media, Wunmi Evelyn, the Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, emphasized, “There is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders. Official updates regarding visa policies are communicated through foreign ministries and announced by embassies.”
The embassy further explained that visa applications are meticulously evaluated individually. For those who have faced rejections, the secretary advised, “Applicants should rectify errors in their initial applications, enhance the quality, and ensure updated documentation is provided.”
This statement comes in the wake of Nigeria’s passport ranking on the Henley Passport Index, where it was placed 90th globally in 2023, granting visa-free access to merely 46 out of 227 destinations. Nigeria’s passport ranks as the fifth-worst in Africa, surpassing only South Sudan, Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by spokesperson Amb. Eche Abu-Ode, has not yet released an official statement regarding this matter.