Travel News
Visa Restrictions Push Nigerians to New Holiday Destinations - THISDAY
BY Chinedu Eze
visa protocols introduced by the United States, some European and Asian countries, including the xenophobia in South Africa have forced Nigerians to discover new destinations during the summer holidays in 2026, especially in Africa.
Visa restrictions, which seem to target African countries and other third world nations have forced Nigerians to avoid most European countries, the United States and Canada and now prefer African destinations like Kenya, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana amongst others.
Some of these countries offer visa on arrival and e-visas and accept local currencies in the home countries, thereby reducing pressure on scarce foreign exchange.
Kenya is completely visa-free for Nigerian passport holders. Nigerian travellers do not need a visa or a pre-travel Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Kenya. Upon arrival in Kenya, travellers are granted entry clearance to stay for up to 60 days.
Kenya recorded 2.7 million visitors in 2025 and African continent remained the country’s leading source of visitors, accounting for 47 per cent of all international visitors. Nigerians who travel to Kenya experience notable surge in interest following Kenya’s policy shift in July 2025.
A month ago, during an award night in Lagos, Kenya Airways confirmed that its passenger numbers from Nigeria has significantly increased and that most of last year, it operated largely wide- body aircraft to Lagos, projecting to start Abuja as second destination from Nigeria.
The airline disclosed that passenger numbers from Nigeria grew by over 10,000 travellers, driven heavily by eased entry rules and visa-free and Electronic Travel Authorization waiver policies enacted by Kenya. This rise in traffic prompted the airline to boost its flight capacities and frequencies out of Lagos
This is an indication that more Nigerians now travel to Kenya as they were travelling to South Africa few years ago. Then South Africa served as venue for many Nigerian conferences, where the organisers combine safari and business.
Also, Ghana reported that over 176, 000 Nigerians visited the country in 2025, emphasising the massive scale of Nigerian out outbound tourism within the continent
Rwanda is visa-free for Nigerian passport holders for short visits. Under a bilateral agreement, Nigerians can travel to Rwanda without obtaining a visa prior to departure and are granted a free 30-day single-entry visa upon arrival. Known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda is celebrated for its wildlife, including gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and its clean, green cities.
Also, Nigerian passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt for $30. Travellers may also apply for approval via the Egypt e-visa platform (ESIA). Egypt is known as the treasure trove of ancient history, home to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the massive temples in Luxor, the Nile River, the blue waters of the Red Sea and the peaceful Siwa Oasis
On the contrary, the UK government has continued to implement strict immigration overhauls to curb visa misuse and reduce net migration. Major changes include tightened university sponsorship rules, expanded deportation powers, and higher salary thresholds for skilled workers.
Under the Trump administration, US imposed new travel restrictions on Nigerians seeking to enter the United States, targeting visa categories that account for the majority of visas issued to Nigerian nationals by US consular authorities.
Under the new measures, Nigerians are barred from entering the US as immigrants or on several non-immigrant visa categories, including B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), combined B-1/B-2, F (academic studies), M (vocational studies) and J (exchange programmes).
These categories represent the bulk of visas issued annually by the US embassy and consulates in Nigeria, covering business travel, tourism, education and exchange programmes.
Canada experienced a 48 per cent decline in granting study permits to Nigerians, between January and August 2025, granting only about 2,800 study permits compared with the same period in 2024.
Also, the US experienced a 24 per cent year-on-year drop as it issued only around 1,400 F-1 student visas to Nigerians from January to May 2025. The main reasons are the recent travel bans and restrictions.
These figures, which point to a reduction in approvals, reveals a complex picture of Nigerian students’ global study trends.
Before the summer holidays, average return economy tickets from Nigeria to Kenya, Egypt, and Rwanda was N800,000. However, a summer demand surge has pushed airfares significantly higher.
Currently, a return economy ticket from Lagos to Kenya for August and September averages N1.3 million, a 62.5 per cent increase. Flights to Rwanda have climbed 50 per cent to average N1.2 million, while return tickets to Egypt have surged 87.5 per cent to reach an average of N1.5 million.
The President of National Association of Nigeria
Travel Agencies (NANTA), Yinka Folami, told THISDAY that more Nigerians now travel to African destinations, noting that compared to last year, the number of Nigerians who are travelling this year for summer is at the level of last year.
He said that travel for summer holiday would peak by first to second week of September and it would then experience downward trend afterwards.
Currently, the cost of return ticket to London and other European destinations is about N3 million for economy class but after the summer season it would come down to N1.9 million to N2 million.
He said the popular destinations still remained Europe, UK, Canada, since the US has literally shut its doors against Nigerian travellers. Nigerians also still go to the far and Middle East.
Folami confirmed that more Nigerians now travel to African destinations and the tonic is liberal visa policy introduced by some countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Ghana and others.
“More people travel to Africa. We are encouraging Africa to Africa travel and the number of Nigerians travelling to African destinations will continue to increase. Africa is the next thing in the world. We are advocating for more travel across Africa,” he said. Yes, African destinations and intra-African travel have increasingly drawn Nigerian holidaymaker’s due to surging foreign exchange pressures, rising flight costs to Europe or North America, simpler visa-on-arrival processes across several African nations, and a growing pride in exploring rich, culturally vibrant neighbouring landscapes.
The benefit of intra- Africa includes less currency pressures because the fluctuations in the Naira make traditional long-haul trips to Europe, North America, or Asia much more expensive.
African countries offer high-end leisure experiences at a lower relative cost as holidaymakers find that local African currencies or dollar-indexed regional travel stretch their vacation budgets further.
In the coming years, Africa will progressively become more enthusiastic to welcome Africans and with growing economy in the region, interest in Europe, the US and Canada will wane as holiday destinations and more Nigerians will be travelling to other African countries for holidays.
FAAN denies fix on controversial N30,000 Lagos airport taxi rate
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has clarified that the controversial N30,000 taxi fare for trips from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was not a rate newly imposed by the authority or introduced through its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System.
FAAN made the clarification in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, on Thursday, amid public criticism over the cost of airport transportation.
The controversy followed a video by travel content creator Chris Joondeph, known as Authentic Travelling, who showed a quoted fare of N30,000 for a trip from the Lagos airport to the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja.
A check by PUNCH Online showed that the same journey was listed at N6,900 on another e-hailing platform, while Uber quoted N4,200 for UberX and N5,800 for its Priority option.
Reacting to the concerns, FAAN said the airport taxi fares highlighted in recent public discussions had existed before ACHRAMS and were not substantially different from the rates previously applicable.
“It is also important to clarify that the fares highlighted in some of the recent public discussions were not rates newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS,” the authority said.
“Airport taxi fares have existed independently of the application, and the rates themselves were not substantially different from those previously applicable.”
FAAN explained that ACHRAMS, which stands for Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, was introduced to improve the management and visibility of authorised airport car-hire operations and was not designed to determine or introduce taxi fares.
“What ACHRAMS introduced was greater visibility and transparency around the prevailing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers,” it said.
The authority acknowledged that the comparison with e-hailing fares had heightened concerns among passengers, who had become accustomed to cheaper transportation options through platforms such as Uber and Bolt.
“FAAN recognises, however, that the comparison with the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms understandably heightened public concern,” it stated.
The clarification came as FAAN also announced that it had resolved its operational issues with Bolt, clearing the e-hailing company to resume services at its managed airports.
FAAN said its efforts to strengthen the management of commercial transportation at airports followed concerns that had persisted for nearly a decade, including passenger solicitation, touting, random pick-ups, unregulated operations and associated safety, security and accountability issues.
The authority also stressed that it supported competition in airport transportation and had no intention of creating a monopoly.
“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation,” it stated.
Delta cancels Lagos-Atlanta flights twice - PUNCH
United States-based carrier Delta Air Lines has cancelled its Lagos-Atlanta flight back-to-back, leaving passengers worried.
The consecutive flight cancellations have led to uncertainty over when they will reach their destinations.
The affected service, flight DL9895 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was initially scheduled to depart on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
What was said to be a technical delay, however, turned into an about three-day ordeal for passengers after the airline cancelled the original service and subsequently disrupted the rescheduled flight.
According to accounts from affected passengers and communications from the airline, Delta initially cancelled the August 23 flight over a mechanical issue identified during pre-departure safety checks.
Passengers were subsequently informed that the flight would be rescheduled after the aircraft had undergone the necessary maintenance.
But two days later, on August 25, passengers were again confronted with an abrupt disruption.
In a notification to affected travellers, Delta attributed the latest cancellation to “crew availability constraints.”
The message sent to passengers read: “We are sorry. Your flight DL9895 from Lagos (LOS) – Atlanta (ATL) was cancelled due to an issue that limited crew availability.”
Passengers have had to make fresh accommodation bookings at their own expense.
Atlanta, a major international connecting hub, is a particularly important destination for passengers travelling onwards to different parts of the United States. Missing a scheduled arrival there can therefore trigger a chain reaction of further cancellations and additional costs.
Under the passenger-protection rules, airlines are generally required to provide assistance to passengers who are stranded overnight because of operational disruptions, including accommodation, transfers and meals, where the relevant conditions apply.
Affected passengers may also be entitled to choose between being re-routed on the next available flight, including through partner carriers where applicable, or receiving a refund in accordance with the applicable rules and terms of carriage.
The PUNCH findings showed that passengers affected by these flight cancellations were without prior notice and, as such, should be offered assistance by the airline.
At the time of filing this report, many of the affected passengers were sitting in the Lagos terminal hall, while many had returned to their hotels.
Reacting to the development, Delta’s Station Manager for Nigeria, Salami Omeiza, said the airline was working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“Delta regrets the inconvenience this disruption has caused and appreciates the patience and understanding of our customers. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew remain our highest priority,” Omeiza said.
He explained that the disruption involved operational and maintenance issues, adding that the airline’s teams were working to assist passengers.
The airline boss added, “Delta flight DL55 on August 23 was cancelled due to operational reasons, while the flight on August 25 departed behind schedule as technicians resolved a maintenance issue with the aircraft. Our teams are working urgently to assist affected customers and re-accommodate them on the next available flights.
“We are providing affected customers with the necessary support and will share further updates as they become available.”
Foreigners Rush to Get UK Residency Rights Before Clampdown - BLOOMBERG
The UK has seen a spike in the number of migrants applying for citizenship and permanent settlement ahead of a planned government clampdown.
Government data shows what appears to be a rush to secure residency rights in response to changes announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that would force migrants to wait longer before they can gain them.
The Home Office said 199,628 people were granted settlement, giving them the right to live, work and study in the UK permanently, in the year through June 2026. Most granted indefinite leave to remain can then apply for citizenship after 12 months.
These figures represent a 24% increase from a year earlier and the highest number since 2010. Over the same 12 month period, 245,520 people were granted British citizenship. Although that was slightly lower than a year earlier, the number of citizenship applications surged 17% to a record 315,224. There was a 44% increase in the number of citizenship applications refused.
The proposed reforms to indefinite leave to remain, which offers permanent settlement rights and a route to citizenship, would double the qualification period from five to 10 years and are controversial among members of the governing Labour Party.
The government is currently consulting on the proposals for stricter settlement rules and new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure from Labour MPs to reconsider whether to push ahead with the changes, first announced under his predecessor Keir Starmer.
Migration is a difficult political topic for Burnham, who also faces pressure from parties on the right over the issue. The Conservatives and Reform UK parties have suggested they would remove settlement rights from people who currently have it.
The UK continued to see a rise in the number of Americans applying to remain in the country. More than 9,400 US nationals applied for British citizenship, either through registration or naturalization, over the last year. But the US remains behind India, Pakistan, Italy, Nigeria, Romania and Poland in the list of nationalities seeking citizenship.
Nuni Jorgensen, researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said the increase in citizenship applications reflects rising migration with a particularly sharp jump among European Union nationals pointing to a sudden change in people’s desire to become British.
“The data do not tell us why, although it is possible that government and opposition party debates about restricting rights or removing people without citizenship may have played a role. Research suggests that uncertainty can encourage migrants to secure their status by applying for citizenship,” she said.
The figures also showed a sharp fall in the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels, a flashpoint for community tensions in recent years.
One in Six People Receiving Asylum Support Live in Hotels
The figure stood at 16,021 at the end of June, down 50% year-on-year and the lowest since data was first reported in 2022.
Mahmood said in a statement the Labour government is “restoring control” of the contentious asylum system.
Kenya airport staff strike delays thousands of passengers - REUTERS
NAIROBI, Aug 31 (Reuters) — Thousands of travellers faced flight delays at Kenya’s main international airport on Monday as airport workers continued a go-slow strike for a second consecutive day, while negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute remained underway.
Disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
The industrial action affected operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya's principal international aviation hub and one of East Africa's busiest airports.
The Kenya Aviation Workers' Union (KAWU) said workers were taking industrial action over several unresolved employment issues.
Workers’ Main Grievances
According to KAWU, the dispute includes difficulties in concluding a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The union also cited what it described as a lack of cooperation from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
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