E-Visa, E-CERPAC policy frustrating expatriates, foreign businessmen – Transparency group

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A Transparency group, Coalition for Ethical Standard Accountability and Good Governance (ESAGG), has unveiled a report. The report is independent. It discusses the effects of the E-Visa and E-CERPAC policy.

They declared that expatriates and foreign workers are becoming frustrated. This situation has become counterproductive.

According to the group, the independent checks were conducted with a cross-section of expatriates. These checks took place at the Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt airports.

The expatriates expressed frustration about paying tax, which is registered by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). They are frustrated by the ongoing implementation of reforms without being given an E-Visa and E-CERPAC as promised.

The group, ESAGG, issued a statement on Thursday through the National Coordinator, Comrade Ebuka Nwachukwu. Expatriates complained of paying their taxes and getting registered by the NIS. They are wondering why the reforms are frustrating them without receiving their E-Visa and E-CERPAC as promised.

“Expatriates using E-Visa and E-CERPAC have complained to our investigation team at the airports in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. They mentioned that the much-publicised E-Visa and E-CERPAC was supposed to be issued online.

However, it is frustrating and counterproductive. They experience delays and embarrassment at the point of departure and arrival.

“This is due to the failure experience at the service windows of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The technology for issuing online is always down. This situation has put many expatriates at the mercy of some personnel. These personnel pretend to be helping them after subjecting them to extra costs apart from the official online payments.

The Expatriates interviewed said they prefer to use the regular process. They are waiting for the NIS and the Ministry of Interior to sort out the technical glitches.

They also hope to remove the obstacle of being surcharged by personnel for undue and unwarranted assistance. Due to system failure, they are forced to succumb to this charge.

“We are calling on the Ministry of Interior and the NIS. They need to phase out the Visa and CERPAC Regime professionally. This should be done side by side.

“They should not collapse the process completely and suddenly. This approach has led to a loss of time. It has also caused extra costs and a frustrating experience, to say the least,” the group stated.