Ethiopia bans Nigerians from obtaining visas on arrival after 49% stake acquisition on Nigeria Air
By Yunus Yusuf
Barely two weeks after Ethiopian Airlines was made 49% majority stakeholder on the Nigeria Air project, it would seem that the horn of Africa has scrapped Visas on arrival for Nigerians who may want to travel to that country.
The Business Intelligence (TBI Africa) obtained the circular from Ethiopian Airlines titled: No More Visa on Arrival for Nigerian Citizens which states that passengers from the West African country must obtain visas from the Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja before embarking on the trip
The statement in the circular reads,” Please be informed that effective immediate No More Visa on Arrival For Nigerian Citizens. Passengers are to obtain their Visa at Ethiopian Embassey in Abuja before traveling.
“Please note that: Passengers transiting overnight in Addis Ababa are not affected by the ban. E.g. Passengers having layover in Addis to travel the next morning to Zanzibar, Seycheles, Lusaka, Lilongwe, Harare, Cape Town, Etc are not affected by the ban and do not need transit visa for their trips.
“Thank you for choosing Ethiopian Airlines.”
This latest move calls to question the actual undertones of the partnership as well as Nigeria’s rule of reciprocity with regards both country’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement( BASA) as no reason has been given for this ban.
However, it is also noted that Ethiopia scrapped Visas on Arrival for 42 other countries, many of which are African and South American countries
