The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria confirmed on Saturday that there is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders, dispelling recent reports that had caused concern.
On Thursday, reports emerged suggesting that Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates had revoked certain privileges for Nigerian passport holders, including visa-on-arrival and e-visa options.
Although Turkey no longer offers e-visas to Nigerian passport holders—a previously seamless process—the Turkish Embassy has clarified the situation. Wunmi Evelyn, Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, stated in an interview, “There is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders.”
Evelyn explained that any updates regarding visa policies are officially communicated to the respective foreign ministries and announced by embassies. She emphasized that visa applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, addressing instances where applicants faced rejections.
“Each application is considered individually,” Evelyn said. “If an applicant has previously been denied a visa, they should correct any mistakes in their initial application, improve the quality of their application, and update their documentation. It is important to avoid submitting outdated supporting documents.”
This clarification follows Nigeria’s recent ranking as having one of the least powerful passports in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index. In 2023, Nigeria was ranked 90th globally, with visa-free access to only 46 out of 227 destinations. Despite being Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria’s passport is the fifth-worst on the continent, tied with South Sudan and only ahead of Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia.
When contacted for comment, Amb. Eche Abu-Ode, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “I will confirm and revert.” However, at the time of this report, no further updates had been provided.
