South Africa Set To Issue 5-Year Visas To Nigerians

The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria,
Lulu Mnguni, has reported his administration’s
choice to initiate the issuance of 5-year visas to
Nigerian experts, businessmen and other regular
fliers.
Talking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Lagos Wednesday, Munguni said his
administration was currently arranged to wipe
out the troubles typically confronted by Nigerians
when looking for South African visas.
The diplomat also said his government was
moving away from having political diplomacy to
more of economic diplomacy with Nigeria.
“There has been growing concerns from both
Nigeria and South Africa on the issue of visas.
There have been complaints by Nigerians on how
they are treated when seeking visas,” he said.
“Our president has indicated that Nigeria and
South Africa need to intervene by making it
easier for our nationals to have visas to our two
countries.
“We came to an agreement that business people
and frequent fliers between South Africa and
Nigeria will qualify for long-term visas of two,
three, and five years. We have totally moved
from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy.
And to promote this new economic diplomacy,
there needs to be a smooth movement of people
between our two countries.”
Mnguni said he had made a proposition to his
Government for the enrollment of more staff, in
order to have the capacity to quickly take care
of the interest of Nigerians for visas to South
Africa.
“We need a friendship that resides with our
people. Nigeria and South Africa need to criticise
each other in a constructive way,” he said.
South Africa is one of the main destinations for
Nigerians who travel abroad. As at 2013, there
were more than 250,000 Nigerians dwelling in the
nation.”
“We need to look at how we can unplug some of
the irritants that have undermined our cohesion.”