FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLABORATES WITH CANADA TO ADDRESS  DELAYS IN CANADIAN VISA APPLICATIONS.

The Federal Government  of Nigeria in collaboration with the Canadian Government has planned to establish a joint working committee to address persistent delays in the processing of Canadian visa applications by Nigerians and also develop a framework for the evacuation of illegal migrants residing in Canada.

The development was announced by the Ministry of Interior’s Public Relations Officer, MARY ALI, in a statement issued after a meeting between the Ministry and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, DAVID SPROULE.

According to the statement, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, MAGDALENE AJANI, who represented the Minister of Interior, OLUBUNMI TUNJI-OJO, said the meeting focused on concerns over prolonged visa processing periods for Nigerian applicants, particularly students, stressing that some Nigerian students had been unable to travel to Canada on time to begin their academic programmes because of delays in obtaining study permits.

The two countries also considered expanding their Air Transport Agreement, (ATA), which could pave the way for direct flights between Nigeria and Canada. 

The arrangement is expected to strengthen business relations between both countries and make international travel more convenient by reducing the need for passengers to connect through Europe or the United States.