Turkey Comments on Alleged Visa Ban Imposed on Nigerians

The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has officially stated that there is no visa ban imposed on Nigerian passport holders, refuting recent reports that had caused concern.

On Thursday, rumors circulated indicating that countries such as Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates had withdrawn certain visa privileges for Nigerian citizens. These privileges included the suspension of visa-on-arrival, e-visa, and other passport-related benefits.

Although Turkey has stopped offering its previously available e-visa to Nigerian passport holders, the Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Wunmi Evelyn, clarified in an interview that there is no visa ban currently in effect.

Evelyn emphasized that any changes to a country’s visa policies are officially communicated through foreign ministries and embassy announcements. She also mentioned that visa applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

In light of recent reports ranking Nigeria’s passport as one of the least powerful globally, with access to only 46 out of 227 destinations, Amb. Eche Abu-Ode, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “I will confirm and revert” when contacted for a response. However, no additional comments were provided at the time of this report.