Ethiopia ‘bans’ visa on arrival for Nigerians

The Ethiopian government has reportedly placed a ban on visa on arrival for Nigerians.

Stakeholders said the ban which took effect on Tuesday October 4, would create some hiccups in travel to Ethiopia.

Daily Trust reported that the management of Ethiopian Airlines, the national airline of Ethiopia, had informed travel partners of the new development.

Prior to the said ban, the passengers travelling to Ethiopia or transiting through the country from Nigeria could easily obtain a visa on arrival (VOA) on getting to Bole International Airport, Addis-Ababa.

According to the publication, a memo sent by Ethiopian Airlines to travel partners read;

“Please be informed that effective immediate No More Visa on Arrival for Nigerian citizens.

“Passengers are to obtain their visa at the Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja before traveling. Please note that: Passengers transiting overnight in Addis Ababa are not affected by the ban. E.g. passengers having layover in Addis to travel the next morning to Zanzibar, Seycheles, Lusaka, Lilongwe, Harare, Cape Town, etc are not affected by the ban and do not need transit visa for their trips.”

President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye however told the publication that the information she got from a senior official of Ethiopian Airlines was that the issue has not been confirmed.

A travel agent who spoke on the development said;

“We are still studying the development. We have reached out to some officials of Ethiopian Airlines, though they did not deny it but they said it is not confirmed yet.”