Nigeria Blocks Visas To Kenyans Despite Upfront Payment, Visa-Free Claims
Outrage is mounting after Nigeria was accused of denying visas to Kenyan citizens, despite Nairobi allowing Nigerians visa-free entry into the country.
The row escalated on Tuesday after Larry Madowo revealed he had faced difficulties gaining entry into Nigeria, highlighting what many now see as a growing diplomatic imbalance.
Madowo, a journalist with CNN, disclosed that Kenyans are being denied visas even after meeting all application requirements, including submitting travel documents and paying the required fees.
He pointed out that while Nigerians can travel to Kenya without visas, Kenyans must go through a costly and uncertain process to access Nigeria, only to face frequent rejections.
According to him, applicants are required to pay about Ksh10,332 (USD 80), which includes visa charges, online processing fees, and payment provider costs.
Despite the payments and documentation, some applicants receive outright denials, with Nigerian authorities citing provisions under the Immigration Act without offering detailed explanations.
A sample rejection letter shared online indicated that the decision is final and that visa application fees are non-refundable, further fuelling frustration among affected travellers.
The issue has sparked debate online, with some calling for Kenya to introduce retaliatory measures against Nigerian passport holders to ensure fairness.
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One Nigerian academic weighed in, suggesting that Kenya should impose reciprocal visa restrictions to push Nigeria into reviewing its current stance.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s recent move to ease travel across the continent by scrapping Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirements for most African countries.
The policy, implemented in July last year, allows citizens from nearly all African states, except a few flagged over security concerns, to enter Kenya without prior authorisation.
Under the framework, Nigerians are among African nationals permitted to travel to Kenya visa-free and can even extend their stay, a privilege now at the centre of the diplomatic backlash.
Nigeria Blocks Visas To Kenyans Despite Upfront Payment, Visa-Free Claims
