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| INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu with international observers |
The Federal Government has approved visa fee waiver for foreign observers who were in the country to monitor the polls.
This was due to the re-scheduling of the 2019 general elections to Saturday, February 23 and March 9, 2019.
It directed individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters, Abuja, for extension of their visas without charge.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, said in a statement on Thursday that the Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) approved the visa fee waiver in view of the plight of the accredited Observers and Monitors.
It said, “The desk officers will attend to those requiring extension of their visas issued gratis (without charges). This provision became necessary to afford those affected the opportunity to travel out or return without violating the Immigration provisions that relate to entry and exit with valid visa and document.”
The CG advised affected election Observers and Monitors to take advantage of the offer.
