Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
ABUJA, Nigeria — Renowned Pan-African scholar and governance advocate, Professor PLO Lumumba, has urged the Nigerian government to abolish visa requirements for African citizens, arguing that unrestricted movement across the continent is essential for Africa’s economic transformation, regional integration, and sustainable development.
Speaking during a public engagement on Africa’s future and continental cooperation, Lumumba said Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, has a strategic responsibility to champion policies that promote unity rather than restrictions among African countries.
According to him, removing visa barriers would strengthen trade, encourage investment, enhance tourism, facilitate academic exchanges, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Africa cannot genuinely speak about unity while Africans continue to face unnecessary barriers when travelling within their own continent,” Lumumba said.
Nigeria’s leadership role
Lumumba stressed that Nigeria occupies a unique position in Africa due to its population, economic influence, diplomatic history, and cultural reach. He argued that bold immigration reforms from Nigeria would inspire similar actions across the continent.
He noted that while African leaders frequently discuss regional integration during summits, many countries continue to impose cumbersome visa requirements on fellow Africans, making movement more difficult than travel to some countries outside the continent.
According to Lumumba, genuine African integration requires practical policies rather than political declarations.
“If we believe in Pan-Africanism, we must allow Africans to move, work, invest and collaborate freely,” he said.
AfCFTA and economic opportunities
The governance expert linked visa liberalisation to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area, describing free movement as one of the missing components needed for the agreement to reach its full potential.
The AfCFTA, which officially commenced trading in 2021, aims to create the world’s largest free trade area by connecting more than 50 African countries into a single market.
Experts have long argued that while tariff reductions are important, businesses also require easier movement of entrepreneurs, professionals, transport operators and investors across borders.
Lumumba said reducing travel restrictions would lower the cost of doing business, improve cross-border investments and encourage African companies to expand throughout the continent.
He added that young entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals stand to benefit significantly from easier access to markets across Africa.
Benefits beyond trade
Beyond economics, Lumumba maintained that easier travel would strengthen cultural understanding and academic collaboration among African nations.
He said universities could establish stronger exchange programmes while researchers, students and innovators would find it easier to collaborate on issues affecting the continent.
Tourism would also receive a significant boost, allowing Africans to explore neighbouring countries without lengthy visa processes that often discourage travel.
According to him, increased interaction among African citizens would reinforce a shared continental identity and reduce misconceptions between different cultures.
Learning from other African countries
Lumumba pointed to several African nations that have adopted visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies for many African travellers.
Countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana and Benin have introduced reforms aimed at easing entry requirements for citizens of African states, with governments arguing that the benefits of increased mobility outweigh the risks.
Supporters of visa liberalisation believe such policies stimulate business activity, increase tourism revenue and improve regional cooperation.
However, some governments continue to maintain strict visa controls, citing national security, immigration management and border protection concerns.
Nigeria’s evolving visa policy
Nigeria has in recent years taken steps to modernise its immigration system through electronic visa processes and reforms intended to improve legitimate travel.
The Federal Government has also expressed support for regional integration through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose citizens already enjoy freedom of movement within the bloc under existing protocols.
Lumumba, however, argued that broader continental openness should become the next stage of Africa’s integration agenda.
He said extending easier access beyond regional blocs would reflect the vision of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and strengthen Africa’s collective voice in global affairs.
Balancing openness and security
While acknowledging concerns about illegal migration, organised crime and cross-border insecurity, Lumumba insisted that modern technology allows governments to protect national security without imposing broad restrictions on legitimate travellers.
He advocated stronger intelligence sharing, biometric verification, digital immigration systems and enhanced cooperation among African security agencies instead of restrictive visa regimes.
According to him, security and openness should complement rather than contradict each other.
Growing calls for continental integration
Lumumba’s remarks come amid renewed discussions across Africa about implementing the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol, which seeks to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services across member states.
Although several countries have signed the protocol, implementation has progressed slowly, with concerns over migration, employment and national security continuing to delay wider adoption.
Analysts believe that increased political commitment from influential countries such as Nigeria could significantly accelerate the continent’s integration agenda.
Looking ahead
As African economies seek deeper cooperation to compete globally, the debate over visa liberalisation continues to gather momentum.
Supporters argue that easier movement will unlock investment, expand regional trade and strengthen African unity, while critics urge governments to proceed cautiously to safeguard national interests.
For Nigeria, Lumumba believes the choice extends beyond immigration policy—it represents an opportunity to reaffirm its historical leadership role in advancing African solidarity and economic transformation.
Whether policymakers embrace broader visa reforms remains to be seen, but the discussion underscores a growing recognition that the continent’s future prosperity may depend as much on the movement of people as on the movement of goods.
Sources: African Union, AfCFTA Secretariat, ECOWAS, public remarks by Prof. PLO Lumumba.
