By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Founder of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC), Sir Victor Oluwafemi, has described Nigeria’s renewed push for bilateral agreements, trade instruments and aviation partnerships as a step in the right direction, but warned that the absence of effective visa facilitation is weakening their real economic impact.
Oluwafemi, who is also Founder of the Douglas Development Institute (DDI), made the remarks in a statement issued at the weekend, stressing that “trade without mobility is a half-win.”
According to him, many agreements appear impressive on paper but fail to deliver tangible results because Nigerians face persistent difficulties accessing visas in partner countries, even for legitimate business, investment, academic and professional travel.
“Across multiple partner jurisdictions, Nigerians with valid reasons to travel continue to face slow, uncertain and discretionary visa outcomes,” he said. “When timelines are unpredictable, appointments are scarce and decisions inconsistent, it becomes difficult to convert trade promises into transactions.”
Oluwafemi argued that the issue goes beyond consular challenges and directly affects Nigeria’s global competitiveness. He noted that trade agreements only work when traders can meet buyers, inspect goods and conclude contracts, while investment partnerships require the ability to deploy teams and conduct due diligence swiftly.
Similarly, he said aviation agreements can only become commercially viable when passenger access is reliable and predictable, warning that without visa facilitation Nigeria risks creating “corridors that look open but function as closed.”
He called on the Federal Government to adopt a clear national standard requiring all major bilateral economic instruments to include reciprocal visa facilitation and mobility protocols. Such frameworks, he suggested, should include fast-track visa handling for official delegations, accelerated processing and multi-entry visas for verified business travellers, and sector-specific mobility channels for professionals, creatives and academics.
“Nigeria is entitled to reciprocity,” Oluwafemi said, adding that agreements which allow the movement of capital while restricting the movement of Nigerians create an imbalance that undermines national interests.
He warned that continued silence on the issue fuels public frustration, weakens confidence in economic diplomacy and reinforces the perception that bilateral agreements benefit only a few elites rather than the wider population.
Oluwafemi urged President Bola Tinubu to treat mobility as a core pillar of economic statecraft and to mandate visa facilitation clauses as standard annexes to trade deals, aviation arrangements and partnership frameworks. He also called for the publication of measurable delivery indicators for partner countries, including visa processing timelines and access to multi-entry visas.
“Nigeria has shown momentum in signing agreements,” he said. “The next test is whether Nigerians can access, use and monetise them.”
