Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo has criticised Nigeria’s visa requirements and fees for Kenyan passport holders.
Madowo highlighted the disparity in travel arrangements between the two countries.
He noted that Nigerian citizens can enter Kenya visa-free, while Kenyans must pay approximately $80 to obtain a Nigerian visa.
The journalist explained that the base visa fee is about $25, but additional online processing and payment charges bring the total cost to around $80.
Madowo also stated that applicants requesting multiple-entry visas sometimes receive only single-entry visas.
He described Nigeria as falling short on visa openness for other Africans.
Madowo said the Giant of Africa is disappointing in this regard, noting that while Nigerians often say others “carry last,” Nigeria is carrying last when it comes to visa accessibility for fellow Africans.
Background on Visa Reciprocity Issues Between Nigeria and Other African Countries
Nigeria maintains a visa-free policy for citizens of several African nations under ECOWAS protocols and bilateral agreements, allowing stays of up to 90 days without a visa for nationals of ECOWAS member states, including Kenya (which is not in ECOWAS but benefits from reciprocal arrangements in some cases).
However, many African countries require Nigerians to obtain visas, often with fees and documentation requirements.
Kenya introduced visa-free entry for Nigerian citizens in 2023 (initially announced in September 2023 and fully implemented by early 2024), allowing Nigerians to enter without prior visa application for tourism or business stays up to 90 days.
Nigeria, however, continues to require visas for Kenyan nationals, with the standard tourist/business visa fee set at approximately $25–$60 (depending on type and duration), plus mandatory online application fees through the Nigeria Visa Portal, bringing the total cost closer to $80–$100 in many cases.
Similar criticisms of Nigeria’s visa policy have been raised by citizens of other African countries:
In 2023, South African media and travellers frequently highlighted the high visa fees ($60–$100) and lengthy processing times for South Africans, despite South Africa offering visa-free entry to Nigerians (BBC Africa and Daily Maverick reports, 2023).
Rwandan officials and citizens have noted that Rwanda offers visa-free access to Nigerians, while Nigerians face visa fees and delays when travelling to Rwanda (New Times Rwanda, 2024).
These asymmetries have fuelled recurring debates across African media about reciprocity, intra-African travel barriers, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals of easier movement of people and goods.
Nigeria’s visa policy is managed by the Nigeria Immigration Service, with fees and requirements published on the official visa portal.
