NewStats: 3,265,112 , 8,185,710 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 02:03 PM 64z3s

CNN International correspondent, Larry Madowo, has expressed dismay over Nigeria’s visa fees.

Madowo, who made this known on his LinkedIn on Monday, disclosed that despite holding a Kenyan port, which grants visa-free access to numerous African nations such as Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana, Nigeria requires a substantial fee of $215 for a single-entry visa.

He wrote, “Nigeria just charged me $215 for a one-month, single entry visa. Again. I was here three weeks ago – paid the same $215. This is actually my third time in Nigeria this year, so they have made $645 from me in 2024 alone.

“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of itting someone into a country?

“How can we achieve a borderless Africa, or the promise of the AfCFTA, if we charge Africans $215 for a single-entry visa?

“In the three weeks since I was last in Lagos, I went to Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana, where I don’t need a visa with a Kenyan port. In fact, I’ve also been to South Africa three times this year. It cost me $0, like the ancestors intended.

“Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival system is similar to the ‘visa-free’ delusion of Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation – you apply in advance, submit some documents, and wait for it to be approved. It can take up to five business days. If you know ‘someone,’ you can pay them $50 or more to ‘facilitate’ a faster approval.

“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”

https://punchng.com/cnn-reporter-protests-nigerias-215-single-entry-visa-fee/

“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of itting someone into a country?

“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”

Larry Madowo made some valid points and it's refreshing that we can get this kind of civil and intellectual .
Thank you Larry for sharing this with love.
Unpatriotic elements, criminal cyberbullies and trolls, take note of how you can make your point without committing criminal defamation and cybercrime.


We need more investors and investments in Lagos and we want Nigeria to be the top destination for Africans and non Africans alike for travel, investment, work, pilgrimage, leisure and permanent relocation to mother Africa by our brothers and sisters who desire to reconnect with their African roots in Ile-Ife Odaaye ( The Source) where creation began.

There's always room for improvement in our processes and the istration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not claim to know it all. Please give your and criticism in a constructive, intelligent and civil way like Madowo just did with facts and figures with no insult and/or criminal cyberbullying. It's always a delight to watch Larry on CNN, absolutely brilliant and courteous professional who makes me proud to be an African each time I watch his news casting, journalistic report presentations and when he conducts interviews on CNN with African artists, techpreneurs, trendsetters etc .

May God bless Nigeria and the African continent. Check my signature for free stuffs!

Eleohjo:
To those Nigerian citizens currently attacking the Nigerian government, and especially our immigration authorities, due to Mr. Larry Madowo's post complaining about his $215 alleged Nigerian visa payment, do note the following:

The Nigerian visa can be obtained at $25 on arrival for Kenyan citizens, of which Mr. Madowo is one. The $170 is for the biometric fee.

Also, Nigeria has reciprocal visa policies with Mr. Madowo's home country, Kenya. I have been to Kenya multiple times. For many years, Nigerian citizens enjoyed visa-free or visa-on-arrival privileges at Kenyan airports. This was recently revoked. And you do not expect Nigeria to be pleased about this, especially as more Nigerians visit Kenya than vice versa. If Mr. Madowo wants to take a dig at African nations frustrating a "borderless Africa", he should look closer to home.

Moreover, Larry Madowo, who is a CNN correspondent, and who should have known that he is very likely to visit Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest economy, more than once a year, should have applied for a multiple-entry Nigerian visa, which is available to him for five years at a more affordable cost of just $100, which is far cheaper than the Kenyan visa for Nigerians for the same period, and which would have eliminated the need for multiple biometric charges. He would have just needed to do ONE biometric payment.

Larry Madowo did not do his homework correctly. It is entirely the responsibility of a traveller to research the immigration requirements of the country he intends to visit. He was negligent in his responsibilities and is trying to blame Nigeria. For a journalist on a platform like CNN, he has demonstrated a surprising ignorance of non-proprietary information, which can be publicly sourced with a cursory Google search.

What he is complaining of is not even unique to Nigeria, as those Nigerians who are ing him, due to their disappointment at the results of the last elections, seem not to be aware.

For example, whenever a Nigerian or Kenyan reapplies for a British visa, they MUST still pay for their biometrics and take them, even if they just had them recently. It is a standard practice. It is precisely the same process in Nigeria for which Mr. Madowo is complaining about.

Therefore, prudent individuals choose to apply for a long-term multiple visa, of which the British five-year multiple entry visa costs £771, which is almost ten times the cost of a five-year Nigerian visa. That £771 does not include the cost of Biometrics.

And I saw supposedly enlightened Nigerians, like Dr. Victor Oladokun, of the African Development Bank, commenting on Mr. Madowo's post as though Nigeria had erred and was not acting in line with international best practices.

Can Larry Madowo try the stunt he pulled with Nigeria against the United Kingdom or the United States?

I am proud of my country. I salute the reforms in our immigration system. And I, for one, will not sit idly while Mr. Madowo undermines Nigeria for an oversight he is entirely responsible for.

I visited Kenya with twenty of my friends and family for my fifteenth birthday, and I was asked to pay a bribe at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the early hours of January 17, 2024. I have documentary and eyewitness evidence and can prove it in court. I am not known as a meticulous record keeper for nothing! However, for the sake of African brotherhood, I kept a lid on this, because "love covers over a multitude of sins."

Mr. Madowo, like a typical African dictator, is only abusing his privileged position in the media industry to bully the Nigerian Immigration Service unnecessarily, and again, I, for one, will not have it!

Reno Omokri

Country wey don spoil finish

Shameless country, this is enough reason for whoever has left not to return after acquiring citizenship elsewhere.

*****
Some are quoting me to say all sorts of rubbish, your broke, ugly country needs all the help it can get from visiting foreigners instead you are comparing it to developed nations and ing the fleecing of visitors by our corrupt immigration officers.

Agbekpo country, no single level. Only back to back noise and extortion.

Toh

This is very bad. Imagine that visa is just $25 and processing $20 respectively, but they charge a whopping "processing fee" of $170 just for biometrics. I can tell you for free that that biometric fee is not entering into any government coffer. With one single Shenghen visa, one can tour more than 27 European countries. But these myopic Africans will keep themselves isolated from each other while blaming western world for being the cause of their misfortune. these Europeans were the ones that demarcated Africa and introduced borders, but they later understood that there was need for them to eliminate those borders among themselves in Europe to be able to experience true growth. But up until now, these myopic African leaders are holding tightly unto what their slave master had already discarded because it was ineffective and unproductive. Africa is providentially endowed with natural and human recourses and until they come to the realization that there is need for free movement of goods and persons among African nations, they will never experience significant growth to compete with other continents.

FreeStuffsNG:
“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of itting someone into a country?

“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”

Larry Madowo made some valid points and it's refreshing that we can get this kind of civil and intellectual .
Thank you Larry for sharing this with love.
Unpatriotic elements, criminal cyberbullies and trolls, take note of how you can make your point without committing criminal defamation and cybercrime.

May God bless Nigeria and the African continent. Check my signature for free stuffs!

You've successfully contributed nothing to the topic sofar.
You have no right to dictate how a Nigerian express his or grievance against the government.
Everyone has been pushed to the wall and if you're satisfied with that then good for you.
During the time of pantami we were all ask to go link our nin orso.
People like me already did nin years back.
Our simple request was for the so-called guy to make arrangements on how Telecom industry will get our nin details from the nimc people since they already have a database.
That would have been easier but no, they made it a drama.
This useless culture of capturing and recapturing or submitting data numerous times has being use to embezzle alot of money from different agencies in Nigeria.

When the people speak up against this fraud, people like you will come out to lambast sane minded people as not being patriotic for whatsoever reason known to you.

Too much fraud that you ed.

There's something called Reciprocity. The reporter should first find out how much Nigerians pay for visas to the US.

It will do him good to know the amount is nonrefundable, the rejection rate is extremely high, yet Nigerians pay the same fees every time they apply for a visa to the USA

This needs to be investigated and reviewed immediately to conform with Kenya's Visa policy for Nigerians.

He has a point

FreeStuffsNG:
CNN reporter protests Nigeria’s $215 single entry visa fee
9th April 2024

By Hannah Johnson

CNN International correspondent, Larry Madowo, has expressed dismay over Nigeria’s visa fees.

Madowo, who made this known on his LinkedIn on Monday, disclosed that despite holding a Kenyan port, which grants visa-free access to numerous African nations such as Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana, Nigeria requires a substantial fee of $215 for a single-entry visa.

He wrote, “Nigeria just charged me $215 for a one-month, single entry visa. Again. I was here three weeks ago – paid the same $215. This is actually my third time in Nigeria this year, so they have made $645 from me in 2024 alone.


“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of itting someone into a country?

“How can we achieve a borderless Africa, or the promise of the AfCFTA, if we charge Africans $215 for a single-entry visa?

“In the three weeks since I was last in Lagos, I went to Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana, where I don’t need a visa with a Kenyan port. In fact, I’ve also been to South Africa three times this year. It cost me $0, like the ancestors intended.

“Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival system is similar to the ‘visa-free’ delusion of Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation – you apply in advance, submit some documents, and wait for it to be approved. It can take up to five business days. If you know ‘someone,’ you can pay them $50 or more to ‘facilitate’ a faster approval.

“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”

https://punchng.com/cnn-reporter-protests-nigerias-215-single-entry-visa-fee/
Mynd44 nlfpmod

Nigeria is always behind. Imagine the daylight robbery on fellow Africans. Shame on the giant of africa

ValCon888:
There's something called Reciprocity. The reporter should first find out how much Nigerians pay for visas to the US.

It will do him good to know the amount is nonrefundable, the rejection rate is extremely high, yet Nigerians pay the same fees every time they apply for a visa to the USA

Did you read the article or you just opened your mouth before understanding what he wrote?

In Elon Musk's voice....

Are you done, now pay $215!

Loud it!

You just start to dey hala ,welcome to Renewed shege

I like the manner in which he ed his message, it was respectful and his points were noted, however, Nigeria government is not entirely out of place here.

Fees like these are not peculiar to Nigeria alone. All countries charge various fees for the process (Except those on visa free of course). About the biometrics, it is necessary for security, the UK for instance will always conduct fresh biometrics each time, you apply for fresh visa.


The thing is, Nigeria can easily make the process free for all Africans but how many countries in Africa are willing to do the same for Nigerians?

Nonetheless, the government should look into the issue so as to encourage investors coming in.

Meanwhile, please :

Everything you need in this life is in Jesus, forsake your sinful ways, pray, read the Bible and stay close and he will grant you your heart desires.

What do you need? Wisdom, riches, blessing, honour? You can get them all in Christ Jesus:

Rev.5.12 - saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

Ehya, protest electricity hike also.

People wan connect there borehole to prepaid how far

You can price it now

FreeStuffsNG:
“The visa itself costs $25, but Nigeria charges a $20 ‘processing fee’ and $170 for biometrics every time. My fingerprints haven’t changed since I was here three weeks ago. Why am I paying $170 to have them taken and to pose for a picture each time I visit? Isn’t that a standard part of itting someone into a country?

“I love Nigeria, but the visa situation is showing me shege. It’s too much oo! Why this Shege Pro Max?”

Larry Madowo made some valid points and it's refreshing that we can get this kind of civil and intellectual .
Thank you Larry for sharing this with love.
Unpatriotic elements, criminal cyberbullies and trolls, take note of how you can make your point without committing criminal defamation and cybercrime.


We need more investors and investments in Lagos and we want Nigeria to be the top destination for Africans and non Africans alike for travel, investment, work, pilgrimage, leisure and permanent relocation to mother Africa by our brothers and sisters who desire to reconnect with their African roots in Ile-Ife Odaaye ( The Source) where creation began.

There's always room for improvement in our processes and the istration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not claim to know it all. Please give your and criticism in a constructive, intelligent and civil way like Madowo just did with facts and figures with no insult and/or criminal cyberbullying. It's always a delight to watch Larry on CNN, absolutely brilliant and courteous professional who makes me proud to be an African each time I watch his news casting, journalistic report presentations and when he conducts interviews on CNN with African artists, techpreneurs, trendsetters etc .

May God bless Nigeria and the African continent. Check my signature for free stuffs!

They're seriously looking for investors truly. That fee is weird. Check out Canadian and usa visa fees before you counter this.

Who call u nah

Go back to wia u come from

We are good with our corn tree

Let's hope someone isn't laid-off soon.

What intrigues you about my profile?

I agree with him in some ways. Why charge that much for biometrics every month for someone that you just issued a visa for last month?
Also, why does he keep applying for visas every month? I always get a 90-day visas if I need a visa for any country.
Ehtiopis charged me 82 dollars and it's good for multiple entries for 90 days no biometrics.

Is he using an American port, that could be the reason why. I don't see Nigeria charging that much for other Africans.

I don't have a bleep

Visa fee for Nigeria should not exceed $2. Nigeria wey don kwango. Nigeria wey don scatter finish?

gaby:
This needs to be investigated and reviewed immediately to conform with Kenya's Visa policy for Nigerians.

Most reasonable comment so far in my opinion

Nothing is free my brother

Even for Freetown

Dem sha don carry u handicap 😂

° Brodaman, But you keep shut when Nigerians are excluded from majority of what other Africans benefits in international trade and travels. Scholarships, payment platforms, visa entry, name it, dem go add other countries remove Nigeria like say na only us bad for world.
My problem is that biometric nonsense for the rest, make dem drop that foreign FX.
You people don't know what Nigerians suffer out side their country at airports even before they go at embassy.
You want a united Africa but turn a blind eye when Nigeria was excluded from benefits you all enjoy yet na money you come make for naija if not you won't come. °
***Jarchi***

Hmm

Thank you for speaking out

Cry me a river. US, UK and other African countries doing much worse for Nigerians