FREE visa regime among the 53-member Commonwealth nations will foster socio-economic growth among the member-countries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, has said.
Addressing journalists Monday in Abuja ahead the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) holding this month in Colombo, Sri-Lanka, Onwuliri stressed that Nigeria’s position on the introduction of the pilot scheme would enhance free movement among member-countries.
According to her, “there is no doubt that a free visa regime will promote trade, tourism and investments while enhancing the value of the Commonwealth membership to citizens.”
Stating that the introduction of the pilot scheme would facilitate a free visa regime for holders of diplomatic and official passports, she noted: “Nigeria will, therefore, support a statement that will set out the aspirations of member-states, which does not necessarily commit to an unrealistic ‘one-size-fits-all’ visa regime for the 53-member states, for which there is really no consensus.”
On people-to-people contact, Onwuliri noted that Nigeria recognises that the current security challenges and anti-immigration sentiments would make a borderless Commonwealth difficult.
Source: Guardian
