The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has refuted claims of a visa ban on Nigerian passport holders. Recent online reports suggested that Ethiopia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates had revoked certain privileges, including visa-on-arrival and e-visa options, for Nigerians.
The reports particularly alleged that Turkey had ceased offering its e-visa service to Nigerian passport holders. However, Wunmi Evelyn, the Personal Secretary to the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, clarified the situation in a conversation with journalists.
“There is no visa ban on Nigerian passport holders. Any updates to the policies and procedures of any country are officially communicated to the respective foreign ministries and announced by the embassies," Evelyn stated.
She explained that visa applications are assessed individually, addressing specific cases where applicants faced rejections. Evelyn advised that applicants who have previously been denied a visa should rectify any mistakes in their initial applications, update their documentation, and avoid submitting outdated supporting documents.
This clarification follows Nigeria's low ranking on the Henley Passport Index, where it placed 90th globally in 2023. The Nigerian passport allows visa-free entry to only 46 out of 227 destinations, making it one of the least powerful passports worldwide. In Africa, Nigeria’s passport ranks as the fifth-worst, tied with South Sudan and only ahead of Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia.
