Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu urges India to extend the window for Nigerians who overstayed their visas to return home voluntarily without penalties.

The Nigerian government has appealed to India to extend its amnesty programme for Nigerians whose visas have expired, allowing them to return home voluntarily without facing penalties or other immigration sanctions.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the request during a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The appeal is aimed at giving Nigerians who have overstayed their visas additional time to regularise their situation or leave India voluntarily without being subjected to penalties that could complicate their return.

The two ministers used the meeting to review several areas of bilateral cooperation, reflecting the growing relationship between Nigeria and India.

A key issue discussed was the possibility of establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the transfer of sentenced persons between both countries.

Such an agreement would provide a formal framework for eligible Nigerian and Indian prisoners serving sentences in each other’s countries to be transferred to their home countries under agreed conditions.

The proposed arrangement is expected to promote a more humane and orderly approach to the treatment and transfer of eligible sentenced persons, while also strengthening legal and consular cooperation between Nigeria and India.

Education and cultural exchanges also featured prominently in the discussions.

Both sides identified increased academic cooperation, cultural programmes and people-to-people exchanges as important tools for deepening understanding and strengthening the longstanding relationship between Nigerians and Indians.

The ministers also examined opportunities to expand economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.

Nigeria and India have maintained significant commercial ties, with Indian businesses operating across several sectors of the Nigerian economy. The two governments are seeking to create more opportunities for businesses and investors from both countries while expanding existing economic partnerships.

The discussions therefore focused on identifying practical areas where bilateral trade and investment can be increased for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s appeal on the visa-overstay amnesty underscores Nigeria’s interest in protecting the welfare of its citizens abroad while working diplomatically with host countries to resolve immigration-related challenges.

The Nigerian government is expected to continue engaging Indian authorities on the matter as both countries work to strengthen their diplomatic, economic, educational and cultural ties.