Reps move to investigate Seychelles govt’s ban on Nigerian passports

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives, Thursday resolved to investigate the ban on Nigerian passports by the Government of the Republic of Seychelles.

The House also asked its Committee on Foreign Affairs (when constituted) to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the Seychelles ban and come up with recommendations for diplomatic solutions within the next 2 weeks.

The House also mandated the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work out a foreign policy strategy to restore the country’s image abroad.

The Green Chamber resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Lagos), who called for the House’s intervention.

In his lead debate, Hon. Kuye recalled that on 7th July 2023, the Government of the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelagic country of 115 islands with approximately 120,000 in population (as per 2022 census figures), placed a ban on Nigerian passport holders.

“The House is also aware that before the ban, Nigeria had a longstanding visa-free agreement with the country, which allows Nigerians free entry without a visa for 30 days.

“The House is further aware that in December 2022, the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his Seychelles counterpart, Anthony Derjacques, signed a direct-flight agreement on behalf of their respective countries.

“The House is informed that the African Union’s Agenda 2063 has 7 aspirations, which include the regional integration of countries and their economies while promoting a continental common market that will enhance trans-border businesses and improve tourism.

“The House is worried that the ban by the Seychelles Government is antithetical to the spirit of African Unionism and the AU’s Agenda 2063’s integration goals that have been domesticated by both countries.

“The House is also concerned about Nigeria’s image abroad, as the list of countries flagging and banning the use of Nigerian passports at their entry ports keeps growing; and further worried that the supposed giant of Africa has been banned by an African country of not more than 120,000 residents – an effrontery to restrict Nigerians who want to spend their money on vacation spots on the country’s islands,” he noted.