By Francis Wilfred
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s migration management framework through targeted reforms aimed at enhancing national security, improving service delivery, and facilitating investment.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known while receiving the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, and his delegation on a courtesy visit at the Ministry’s headquarters in .
In a press release issued by Mary Ali, Head, Press and Public Relations, the Minister emphasized that effective collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) is critical to achieving government policy objectives, particularly in areas requiring coordinated implementation.
He said the Commission plays a strategic role in promoting institutional alignment and supporting revenue optimization across government.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, the Minister said the Ministry is committed to repositioning Nigeria’s migration system to be more efficient, transparent, and supportive of economic activities, while maintaining strong national security standards.
He disclosed plans for an electronic visa system designed to address challenges in visa processing and improve Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors. The system will enable end-to-end digital processing, including issuance of secure QR-coded visas, thereby reducing delays and administrative bottlenecks.
He also revealed the deployment of an integrated digital platform for managing the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) and the expatriate quota system.
According to him, the platform will facilitate real-time data exchange with the Nigeria Immigration Service, eliminate unauthorized intermediaries, and improve transparency and accountability in application processes.
He added that the initiative is already improving compliance and operational efficiency within the system.
The Minister noted that citizenship matters remain strictly regulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while investor-friendly residency options are available within existing legal frameworks.
Earlier, the RMAFC Chairman outlined the Commission’s constitutional mandate to ensure proper collection and distribution of revenues due to the Federation, as well as its role in reviewing revenue allocation among the three tiers of government.
He commended the Ministry of Interior for its contributions to improved revenue inflows and reaffirmed the Commission’s oversight role on agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the solid minerals sector.
Speaking further, Hon. Enefe Ekene said the delegation’s visit aimed to explore strategic collaboration with the Ministry on citizenship-by-investment frameworks and safeguarding investment in the solid minerals sector.
