By Felix Onuah
ABUJA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria has eased its visa rules in
an effort to boost trade and tourism as an African trade
agreement promoting freer movement of goods and services comes
into effect, interior minister Rauf Aregbesola said on Tuesday.
"The objective of the reforms ... is to strengthen Nigeria's
position as a key economy in Africa by attracting more foreign
direct investment ... and lifting Nigeria's teeming population
out of poverty," Aregbesola said.
The new visa policy is expected to boost tourism, aviation,
entertainment, commerce and other areas where Nigeria has
comparative advantage over other African countries, Aregbesola
said, adding that African nationals will be able to get a visa
on arrival in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari said the new policy would improve
the business environment, attract foreign investment and boost
tourism without compromising national security.
Nigeria has grappled with low growth since recovering from a
recession four years ago. Buhari has pledged to revive the
economy, but investors have been waiting for policy signals that
could lift growth. In July, Buhari signed up to the African Continental Free
Trade Agreement, which aims to unite 1.3 billion people and
create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc that could usher in a new
era of development. Nigeria, like most African countries, has a limited
manufacturing base and relies on imports mostly from China to
meet the bulk of its needs. Intra-African trade is low,
hampered by weak infrastructure and visa restrictions.
Some fear the new trade deal could turn Africa into a
dumping ground for countries on the continent with better
manufacturing capacity.
Last week the United States issued a travel ban targeting
prospective immigrants from Nigeria and five other countries, a
move that could affect thousands of people and harm business
sentiment. (Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Giles Elgood)