NAN-S-17
Visa
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports and not the national sports federations will handle all visa applications by all members of the Nigerian delegation to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Tayo Oreweme, the ministry’s Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja visa procurement would be handled at diplomatic level.
She said this was to ensure that members of the delegation to the Games at Gold Coast in Australia did not face procurement hassles.
The director added that the ministry started this procedure some time ago and it has ensured good control on visa applications.
“The ministry is trying to ensure that nobody leaves the shores of Nigeria for any sports championship without approval from the ministry.
“All application must be duly approved by the Minister of Youths and Sports before it will be submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“All federations have been advised to channel all visa applications to the ministry for approval before sending such to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“No federation is allowed to take visa application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly without the Minister of Youths and Sports’ approval.
“Once there is that control, there will be respect for Nigerians, not just because of the Commonwealth Games but for all championships where we will apply for visa,’’ she said.
Oreweme said the practice in the past where federations applied for visa for their athletes and officials on their own has been stopped.
“In life, anything that has no control will be abused. Hence, the need for the ministry to ensure a standard form for visa application,’’ she said.
Oreweme however said that Nigeria had during the “Save the Mission’’ meeting in Gold Coast been assured that there would be no issues with visa procurement for Team Nigeria delegation.
NAN reports that Nigerian athletes heading for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas were denied transit visa by the UK and U.S., thereby stopping them from participating.(NAN)
DE/OIF/OLAL
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Olawale Alabi)