Nigeria Takes Visa Delays to Canada, Seeks Faster Processing for Students

"Prolonged visa processing times had, in some cases, prevented Nigerian students from travelling to Canada to begin their academic programmes." Interior Minister 

.... Says “We are concerned about the delays and the effect they have had on Nigerians, particularly students who arel unable to travel to commence their academic programmes despite having gone through the visa application process."

The Federal Government has raised concerns over persistent delays in the processing of Canadian visas for Nigerians, saying the situation has affected students and other applicants.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, raised the concerns when she received the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, David Sproule, and his delegation in Abuja on Monday.

Ajani, who represented the Minister of Interior, said prolonged visa processing times had, in some cases, prevented Nigerian students from travelling to Canada to begin their academic programmes.

She said the issue required sustained dialogue and stronger institutional cooperation between Nigeria and Canada.

“We are concerned about the delays and the effect they have had on Nigerians, particularly students who arel unable to travel to commence their academic programmes despite having gone through the visa application process,” she said.

The meeting also discussed plans to expand the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement, which is expected to pave the way for direct flights between the two countries.

The proposed direct flights would eliminate the need for passengers travelling between Nigeria and Canada to connect through Europe or the United States, while also boosting trade and commercial relations.

Ajani also assured the Canadian delegation that Nigeria would work with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to develop a Standard Operating Procedure for the removal of persons without legal status in Canada.

She said relevant Nigerian officials would be designated to work with their Canadian counterparts through a joint working group to advance discussions on the arrangement.

Responding, Sproule acknowledged concerns over visa processing delays, describing the issue as a major pressure point in relations between both countries.

He said the concerns raised by Nigeria would be conveyed to the relevant Canadian immigration authorities to improve processing times and ensure that Nigerian applicants received appropriate attention.

Both countries agreed to establish a small technical working group to sustain engagement on visa processing, migration management, air transport and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

Ajani reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening relations with Canada, particularly in immigration, travel facilitation and border management, while urging Canadian authorities to give Nigerian visa applications due and expeditious consideration.