A three-day technical meeting of regional experts in charge of issuing and control of visas in West Africa has ended in Abuja

 

Ekwi Ajide reports that the technical meeting to validate the recommendations of the previously held task force meeting, harmonize cost and design of the visa and deliberate on other associated modalities related to the implementation of the ECOVISA was declared opened by the interim Chairman of the committee, Mr McArious Akanbong.

In his remark, Mr Akanbong, who noted that the meeting was pursuant to the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in 2000, urged participants to work towards the realization of set objectives.

 

ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandje Touré-Litsé, who welcomed participants on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray and the new management, reemphasized the commitment of ECOWAS Commission towards the actualization of ECOVISA, which she said will boost tourism in the ECOWAS region, among other benefits.

Head of ECOWAS National Office in Nigeria, Dr. Yakubu Dadu, who recalled the details of the experts meeting held in Accra Ghana in April 2022, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment and trust in the ECOVISA task force in executing assignment given to them effectively and efficiently.

 

ECOVISA is sampled from the idea of the Schengen visa, which sources said will give non-member states’ citizens access to any of the fifteen member states with one visa.

 

The three-day meeting brought together experts in charge of issuance of visas, those in charge of control of visas at entry points, as well as participants from the ECOWAS Commission.