The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, said the visa amnesty programme was designed to give irregular migrants a chance to regularise their stay or leave the country without penalties.
Speaking at Stakeholders’ Sensitisation on the Implementation of Expatriate Quota Reform, New Visa Regime and Post-Amnesty Programme held at the Service headquarters in Abuja, Nandap described the initiative as part of a broader reform effort to strengthen migration management and enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness for foreign investment.
“The Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme follows a five-month Amnesty window from May 1 to September 30, 2025,” she said, adding, “It was a deliberate magnanimous policy of the Federal Government for migrants with irregular immigration status in Nigeria to either regularise their stay or leave the country without encumbrances.”
Also speaking at the forum Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, D.N. Olanrewaju, said at least 3,500 foreign nationals with expired visas have approached the Nigerian Immigration Service to either regularise their documents or opt to leave the country following the Federal Government’s five-month visa amnesty programme designed to help irregular migrants regularise their stay.
According to Olanrewaju, of the 3,500 visa overstayers who presented themselves for the process, 597 registered, with 455 opting to voluntarily exit Nigeria and 142 regularising their stay.
He said the NIS has now introduced a Post-Amnesty Voluntary Return and Documentation Programme, which began on October 13, 2025, to give defaulters another opportunity to come forward before facing sanctions.
“Despite the generous five-month window and widespread publicity, a significant number of visa overstayers remain non-compliant
“This new phase allows those who missed the amnesty to come forward, document themselves, and explain why they couldn’t regularise earlier.
“Genuine cases will be treated on merit, but others will be required to pay penalties or exit the country.
The idea is to ensure compliance while preventing unnecessary entry bans,” he said.
Olanrewaju warned employers and sponsors of expatriates to comply with the Immigration Act by reporting illegal migrants in their organisations.
“Anyone aiding or harbouring irregular migrants commits an offence under the law,” he stressed.
