Abuja: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has announced Nigeria’s commitment to prioritising Identity Verification on Consular Services to enhance its new visa regime. Tuggar made this statement during a pitch presentation by ASFAAR, a visa and tour company, which aims to simplify the visa processing for Nigerians.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu recently instructed all federal agencies involved in consular and immigration matters to adhere strictly to Nigeria’s international visa commitments. This directive follows the changes in visa issuance policies being implemented by the U.S. government and the United Arab Emirates. The Federal Government’s goal is to improve intergovernmental collaboration in verifying the identities of citizens applying for visas and other consular services through this policy.
Tuggar emphasized that such policies impact Nigerian travelers, necessitating reliable access to visa applicants’ identity records. He stated that the collaboration with ASFAAR and the Council on Biometric Data Verification Policy aims to protect the integrity of Nigerian citizens. The policy seeks to secure the visa application process and facilitate seamless travel while safeguarding the sovereignty of all involved nations, with full inter-agency backing.
The minister explained that this initiative would also deter the use of unauthorized third-party agents, who collect and manage sensitive personal data outside government oversight, posing significant national and international security risks. He added that the approach would improve mutual accountability by allowing destination countries to verify applicants in real-time using Nigeria’s National Identification Number as the primary reference point.
Tuggar noted that the technology, operating under the ASFAAR system, complies fully with Nigerian data protection laws and global best practices. It will interface directly with Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure, validate the authenticity of applicants’ information, and encourage missions to develop assurance and visa refund policies.
Dr. Jamil Hausawi, Chairman/CEO of ASFAAR, stated that the initiative would strengthen outbound travel management, reinforce visa integrity, and enhance bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and friendly countries. He clarified that ASFAAR is designed to support and enhance consular procedures, providing secure access to verified applicant data, sending real-time alerts, and confirming identity use and biometrics.
Hausawi highlighted that the U.S. Government has officially communicated new visa rules affecting Nigerian nationals as part of its global visa reciprocity review, which focuses on high rates of visa overstays by Nigerians and the need for more dependable access to applicants’ identity records. He assured that ASFAAR would comply fully with Nigerian laws by ensuring visa applicants’ data privacy and protection in partnership with relevant government and diplomatic missions to achieve set targets.
The event, reported by NAN, attracted participants from the Ministry of Aviation, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and diplomats, among others.
