The Founder of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC), Sir Victor Oluwafemi, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria’s bilateral agreements translate into practical visa access for citizens, warning that trade and diplomatic deals without mobility remain “half-wins.”
Oluwafemi, who is also the Founder of the Douglas Development Institute (DDI), made this call in a statement issued at the weekend, where he commended Nigeria’s renewed push in trade, aviation, and partnership agreements, but stressed that such efforts would remain ineffective without reliable travel access for Nigerians.
According to him, many Nigerians with genuine reasons to travel for business, education, conferences, and investment still face slow, uncertain, and inconsistent visa processes across partner countries.
“Agreements that Nigerians cannot practically access appear impressive on paper but are weak in the real economy,” he said. “When processing timelines are unpredictable and decisions are inconsistent, it becomes difficult to convert trade promises into real transactions.”
He described the situation as more than a consular challenge, noting that it directly affects Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
“A trade agreement only works when traders can meet buyers and conclude contracts. An investment partnership only works when investors can deploy teams and execute quickly. Without visa facilitation, Nigeria risks building corridors that look open but function as closed,” he stated.
Oluwafemi urged the Federal Government to adopt a national standard that makes reciprocal visa facilitation a mandatory component of all major economic agreements.
To achieve this, he proposed the creation of structured mobility channels, including an Official Mobility Track for government delegations, a Verified Business Mobility Track for exporters and investors, and a Professional and Talent Mobility Track for experts, academics, and creatives.
He also emphasized the need for reciprocity, insisting that countries benefiting from Nigeria’s cooperation frameworks must equally open their doors to legitimate Nigerian travellers.
“Anything less creates an imbalance in which agreements benefit the movement of capital but restrict the movement of Nigerian people who are required to deliver outcomes,” he said.
Oluwafemi warned that continued silence on the issue could fuel public frustration, weaken confidence in economic diplomacy, and reinforce the perception that bilateral agreements serve only elites.
“It also slows down the very Nigerians who convert policy into exports, jobs, tourism, and investment inflows,” he added.
The ADSC founder called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat mobility as a core pillar of economic statecraft and mandate visa facilitation clauses in all trade, aviation, and partnership agreements.
He further advocated the publication of measurable indicators, including processing timelines and access to multi-entry visas, for each partner country.
“Nigeria has shown momentum in signing agreements. The next test is whether Nigerians can access, use, and monetise them,” he concluded.
Sir Victor Oluwafemi is an Isle of Man-based development consultant and international capacity-building executive.
