The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for a more liberal visa policy for Nigerian companies seeking to establish businesses in foreign countries.

Idris made the appeal in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while representing President Bola Tinubu at a meeting with Nigerian community leaders in Ethiopia.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government.

According to a statement issued by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris emphasized the need for other countries to reciprocate Nigeria’s efforts in creating an enabling environment for foreign companies to invest and operate within its borders. He pointed out the disparity between Nigerian and foreign businesses, citing the example of Indonesia, where approximately 50 large Indonesian companies operate in Nigeria, but fewer than five Nigerian companies are established in Indonesia.

Idris stressed that if foreign businesses wish to enter Nigeria to take advantage of the country’s large consumer market, similar opportunities should be afforded to Nigerian companies abroad. He described it as a matter of fairness and reciprocity.

The minister also addressed the Ethiopian government’s decision to cancel the e-visa and visa-on-arrival options for Nigerian travellers. He assured that the issue would be referred to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for diplomatic resolution. Idris highlighted that visa policies between countries were typically based on reciprocal arrangements and underscored the importance of balanced, mutually beneficial agreements.

In addition, Idris urged Nigerians living abroad to maintain good conduct and responsible citizenship, as this would help improve Nigeria’s image internationally. He noted that the current administration had made significant strides in revitalizing the nation’s economy, addressing security challenges, and restoring investor confidence.

On economic progress, Idris pointed to a recent achievement, where Nigeria secured $1.07 billion in foreign direct investment to establish drug and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. This, he stated, marked the beginning of Nigeria’s medical industrialization, which would reduce dependency on imports, create jobs, and strengthen the country’s healthcare sector.

The minister also revealed that over N32 billion had been disbursed to students under the Students Loan Scheme within less than 250 days. In terms of security, he highlighted the success of security forces in neutralizing 8,000 terrorists and bandits, rescuing 8,000 kidnapped victims, and making 11,600 arrests in 2024. Additionally, Idris pointed out that the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, once notorious for criminal activities, had been cleared of criminals, significantly improving security and providing relief to commuters.

The president of the Nigerian community in Ethiopia, Muideen Alimi, was quoted as saying that a workshop is currently being held in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to address issues concerning Nigerians living abroad.

“Last year, I was representing Nigeria in Indonesia and I found out that about 50 big Indonesian companies are operating in Nigeria, but we do not have up to five Nigerian companies operating in Indonesia.

“If they want to come to our country to trade because of our population and ability to purchase their goods and services, then there should also be that reciprocal arrangement where Nigerians are also given their rightful place,” he said.