Nigerian government ends visa amnesty for irregular migrants as Immigration Service enforces reforms to improve border security and migration management.
The Nigerian government has announced the departure of 455 expatriates and the regularization of 142 others following the end of its visa amnesty program, part of a wider effort to tighten immigration compliance and enhance border governance.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, disclosed the figures while addressing stakeholders at a sensitization forum in Abuja. She said the exercise followed a five-month amnesty window granted by the federal government from May 1 to September 30, 2025.
“The Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Program was a deliberate and magnanimous policy of the government,” Nandap said. “It allowed migrants with irregular immigration status in Nigeria to either regularize their stay or leave without penalties.”
The initiative, she explained, was launched under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as part of ongoing reforms to modernize Nigeria’s immigration system. These reforms include a new visa regime, the introduction of electronic residence and work permits (e-CERPAC and e-TWP), and the rollout of digital landing and exit cards for real-time verification and tracking of travelers.
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According to Nandap, the government’s Expatriate Quota Reform is also being implemented to automate approval processes for foreign workers, ensure compliance with labor laws, and reduce bureaucratic delays.
“The reform re-engineers the expatriate monitoring process, eliminating waiting times for regularization and strengthening accountability,” she said.
Nandap added that the sensitization program was designed to educate employers, companies, and other institutions hosting foreign nationals on visa validity, documentation requirements, and penalties for overstay.
“We are committed to building a more efficient, secure, and traveler-friendly immigration system that promotes national security while supporting economic growth,” she said.
NIS spokesperson, Kenneth Olanrewaju, confirmed that immigration officers at all exit points have been directed to verify travelers’ entry and residence permit details and confirm whether they benefited from the amnesty before departure.
He also warned employers and sponsors of expatriates against harboring irregular migrants, stressing that such acts violate the Immigration Act and attract serious penalties.
Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), praised the policy, describing it as “restorative, not punitive.”
“This initiative offers foreign nationals a lawful path to compliance while reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty and respect for the rule of law,” Oyerinde said.
