Prior to this development, Nigerians travelling to Zambia obtained a visa at the point of entry into the country.
However, a new law, which suggests that bilateral relations between both countries have become frosty, requires Nigerians, even when passing through the country, to acquire visas from Zambian Missions abroad.
This move may be connected to the deportation of some Nigerians in December 2011 by then newly sworn in President Michael Sata for allegedly supporting his opponents during that country’s last general elections.
Some of the Nigerians deported then include Victor Adeniyi, a pastor of The Winners Chapel in Zambia and a bank manager who allegedly granted $1 million loan to Sata’s major opponent during the elections, Rupiah Banda.
"Nationals of all Commonwealth countries do not require visas to enter Zambia; except for those nationals from Australia, Britain, Canada, Gambia, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Sri-Lanka who need visas on a reciprocal basis," read a statement posted on the country’s official website.
Nigeria was included to the list last month.
The change in visa requirement came to public notice when some Nigerian journalists failed to travel to Zambia for the CNNMultiChoice media wards held in Lusaka over the weekend.
Some of the journalists realised about this at the last minute and were unable to meet the visa processing regulations on time.
After the deportation in December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working to resolve the issue and maintain cordial diplomatic relations between both countries. "It is like business; there is always risk in it," said Martin Uhomoibhi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. "So you take risks. We will normally not do anything that would hurt our diplomatic relations."
Culled:Vanguardnigeria
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