Some Nigerians applying for South African visas are raising concerns over alleged corrupt practices at the country’s embassy in Nigeria.
According to these applicants, the embassy frequently denies visas without valid reasons and demands unofficial payments through intermediaries.
One of those affected, Florence Opia, a senior official at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), shared her experience.
Despite having a strong travel history, including over 30 trips to South Africa, her visa request was denied.
She applied in December 2024, providing all necessary documents, including a confirmed hotel booking, proof of funds, and a letter from her employer.
However, she was told by an individual claiming to be a travel agent that her visa would only be approved if she paid N1.2 million.
She refused to make the payment, and when her passport was returned in February 2025, her visa had been rejected.
The official reason given for the rejection included claims that her documents were not credible, her bank statement was invalid, and her hotel booking was unverified.
Opia dismissed these claims, stating that her documents were genuine and properly submitted.
She described the situation as exploitation and called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the embassy’s operations.
Attempts to get a response from the South African embassy were unsuccessful.
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA) distanced itself from the alleged corrupt agents, stating that such individuals were not registered travel agents but rather unauthorized middlemen.
Travel expert Olumide Ohunayo noted that South Africa has a history of treating Nigerian travelers unfairly.
He recalled past incidents where Nigerians were denied entry or visas without justification.
He suggested that if diplomatic efforts fail, Nigeria should consider imposing trade restrictions or other measures in response.
This is not the first time South Africa has denied visas to Nigerians without clear reasons.
In September 2024, the country’s embassy rejected visa applications for Nigeria’s junior basketball team ahead of an international tournament.
The decision was only reversed after the Nigerian government intervened.
With these growing concerns, many Nigerians are calling for the government to take action against the alleged unfair treatment and corruption in visa processing at the South African embassy.