- Seychelles bans Nigerian passport holders
- Nigeria and Seychelles previously signed a pact that would enable direct flights between the two countries.
Nigerian passport holders have been banned from visiting the country for holiday purposes by the government of Seychelles.
The development was confirmed by the country’s border security on Sunday.
A Twitter user and travel content creator, @munafromtravelletters, had on Saturday shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a Seychelles’ visa application rejection email.
“We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now we are not accepting any NIGERIAN passport holder for holiday purposes,” the screenshot reads.
“Kindly contact http://www.ics.gov.sc/ (Seychelles Immigration) or call 248 4 293 636 for more information.”
Speaking with TheCable through its customer support service, the Seychelles government corroborated the travel content creator’s screenshot without giving reasons for the ban.
“Yes, but no further information is available at this time,” the border security said.
In December 2022, Nigeria and Seychelles signed a pact that would enable direct flights between the two countries.
Hadi Sirika, then minister of aviation, and Anthony Derjacques, the Seychelles’ minister of transport, both agreed that the pact would promote the African Union agenda 2063 while enhancing business, and promoting tourism.
Before the ban, Nigeria had a long-standing visa-free agreement with Seychelles which allows Nigerian citizens free entry without a visa for 30 days.
The ban placement elicited mixed reactions from social media users, with many lamenting the increase in foreign bans against Nigerian passport holders.
It seems Seychelles just placed a ban on Nigerian passport holders. The thing with having a Nigerian passport is you can be postponing travel plans until you become Bill Gates and immigration policies will be like “ Dey play” pic.twitter.com/UroivUEjGM
— MunafromTravelletters (@Munachimsoooo) July 8, 2023
Seychelles is just 107.4 thousand population. Seychelles population isn't not up to ijebu igbo in Ogun state. Today. Seychelles place a ban on Nigeria passport because Emeka & Chinedu was caught with drugs. South Africa. Malaysia. Indonesia. India don't want us in their country… pic.twitter.com/SC8CEnZ2ZN
— IFÁ FUNSHO 𓋹 (@funshographix) July 9, 2023
Seychelles has seemingly placed a ban on Nigerian passport holders from visiting on holiday purposes.
Blanket bans on entire countries isn’t only lazy, it is discriminatory and an expression of xenophobia.
image H/T: @Munachimsoooo pic.twitter.com/YGvKxktIm9
— Moe (@Mochievous) July 9, 2023
In another story, a 52-year-old Nigerian woman was remanded in prison by the Seychelles Supreme Court on conspiracy to import and traffic an illicit drug into the country.
According to the Seychelles news agency, the Nigerian woman was arrested at the Seychelles International Airport on Thursday after her arrival on an Ethiopian Airline flight.