Nigerians to get passport in 48 hours

shakirudeen taiwo

April 26, 2017 12:44 PM

The report given by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) indicated that it is better doing business in Nigeria now than ever before.

Nigeria Passport

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on Monday, April 24, 2015 ended its 60-day action plan on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria reforms with a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The council which took off on February 21, this year was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The council during the meeting presented some its reform steps taken to enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria. Some of the areas of noted reforms are highlighted in the image below.

The council in a similar event held in Lagos on Friday, April 21, 2017, the Secretary to the Ease of Doing Businesss Secretariat and the SSA to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noted that "Nigeria is considered a difficult place to do business" as a result various administrative bottlenecks entrepreneurs had to encounter before commencing and during business operations.

One of the main areas considered to be hampering local businesses, export and foreign investment is the entry and exit of people and goods in the country.

She noted that "...we have initiated reforms that have seen that international passport application process is now 48 hours and totally e-process. Also, we have started issuing Visa on approval to visitors to the country while we are currently working with the Ministries of Transport and Works, Housing and Power to facilities upgrade of infrastructural facilities at the airport."

The PEBEC also stated that it will now concentrate more action on “deepening existing reforms; completing and implementing pending initiatives; engaging with the public; validating completed reforms and kicking-off medium-term reforms.”

The report further added that the council will now commence a “sub-national reforms across Nigeria’s 36 states; trading within Nigeria; kick-off of initiatives and reforms improving business processes and regulations within Nigeria; and ease of movement of goods within and across regions in Nigeria.”