• President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria will “seriously consider” granting Rwandan citizens 30-day visa-free entry
• The proposal is expected to mirror Rwanda’s existing visa-free policy, which allows Nigerians to enter Rwanda without a visa for up to 30 days
• The presidency said the move is being considered “in the spirit of Pan-Africanism” and as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations

President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria will “seriously consider” granting Rwandan citizens 30-day visa-free entry, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties, improving mobility, and advancing Pan-African cooperation.

The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga after a meeting between Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa in Kigali.

Tinubu is in Rwanda for the Africa CEO Forum, where political leaders, investors, and business executives are discussing regional integration, trade expansion, and investment opportunities across the continent.

According to the presidency, the proposed visa-free arrangement would mirror Rwanda’s current policy, which allows Nigerians to enter the country without a visa for up to 30 days.

“In reviewing consular matters, President Tinubu stated that Nigeria will seriously consider reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free status for Nigerians in the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” the presidency stated.

The meeting also produced fresh commitments to revive the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission signed by both countries in 2021.

The commission is expected to serve as a platform for deepening cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda across key sectors.

Both leaders agreed that Nigeria would host the next session of the commission, with discussions expected to focus on trade, mobility, institutional partnerships, and broader diplomatic cooperation.

Tinubu and Kagame also discussed the activation of pending Memoranda of Understanding covering tourism, anti-corruption, and the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

The two presidents reaffirmed their support for the African Continental Free Trade Area, stressing the need to move beyond political commitments and make the agreement work more effectively for African businesses and economies.

As part of efforts to expand trade links, Nigeria is also in discussions with RwandAir to create additional export opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

The proposed arrangement is expected to improve trade logistics, strengthen air connectivity, and support the movement of goods between both countries.

Nigeria had earlier established a similar air cargo corridor with Uganda Airways, highlighting its growing focus on aviation-backed trade routes within Africa.

The talks between Tinubu and Kagame reflect renewed efforts by African leaders to remove barriers to movement and commerce while turning regional integration goals into practical bilateral agreements.

The development also comes after Tinubu’s remarks at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he blamed illicit financial flows, restrictive global financial policies, and high borrowing costs for the weak state of Africa’s manufacturing sector.

Tinubu called for reforms to the global financial system, arguing that the current structure continues to disadvantage African economies seeking industrial growth.

He noted that Africa contributes less than 2% to global manufacturing output, largely because many countries on the continent still export raw materials while importing finished goods.

Ghana approves visa-free entry for all African nationals

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had approved a groundbreaking policy granting visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals.

This historic move, which fulfilled a significant promise by the president, took effect before the end of his term on January 6, 2025.

With this initiative, Ghana joined an exclusive group of African nations offering visa-free access to all African passport holders, including Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin.