Our Visa Processes Becoming Cumbersome – Information Minister

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee tasked with streamlining visa processes and acquisition.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who disclosed this on Tuesday, May 14, while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, explained that the approval is aimed at easing processes for foreign investors.

According to him, “Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.

“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.

The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

Part of the decisions reached on Monday, the Presidency announced, was a mandated to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to, going forward, procure only vehicles and generators powered by Compressed Natural Gas.

The Federal Government also expects it’s MDAs to begin converting all petrol or diesel-powered vehicles or generators to CNG.

The new directive is “in line with his commitment to ensure energy security, drive utility, and cut high fuel costs,” a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, read on Monday.

Monday’s order affects new requests by Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, an agency of the Marine and Blue Economy which had sought approval to buy several hundreds of petrol-powered operational vehicles.

Also, a request by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to procure petrol-powered generators was also approved but on the condition that the contracts be reviewed for CNG or solar-powered generators.

Addressing members of the Federal Executive Council at the State House on Monday, President Tinubu affirmed, “This nation will not progress forward if we continue to dance on the same spot.

“We have the will to drive the implementation of CNG adoption across the country, and we must set the example as public officials in leading the way to that prosperous future that we are working to achieve for our people.

“It starts with us, and in seeing that we are serious, Nigerians will follow our lead.”