The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has raised the alarm over a sharp increase in the use of fake Schengen visa stamps by passengers seeking to travel to Europe, warning that the development is creating additional challenges for genuine Nigerian travellers.
The NCAA spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this while highlighting concerns surrounding the treatment of Nigerian passengers transiting through Morocco and ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to make international travel easier for legitimate travellers.
According to Achimugu, many passengers using fraudulent visas are being detected at transit airports, while others are only discovered upon arrival in Europe.
He said the fake visas are reportedly so professionally produced that they can be difficult for immigration profilers without sufficient experience to detect before passengers depart Nigeria.
Achimugu also revealed that some passengers transiting through Casablanca deliberately book long layovers to qualify for hotel accommodation in the Moroccan city.
“Once they enter the city, they disappear and try to find an illegal way into Europe,” he said.
He identified this as one of the reasons Morocco has continued to restrict Nigerians without visas from entering the country, even when they are eligible for hotel accommodation during long transit periods.
However, Achimugu said the NCAA had asked the Moroccan Mission to consider available statistics and review the restrictions to make entry into Morocco easier for genuine passengers who are entitled to hotel accommodation.
“Our argument is simple,” he said, noting that other countries, including Ethiopia, have adopted arrangements that allow genuine transit passengers to access hotel accommodation without obtaining a visa.
He explained that Nigerians travelling on Ethiopian Airlines who are entitled to hotel accommodation in Addis Ababa do not require a visa for the purpose, while the airline provides buses to transport them between the airport and their hotels.
Achimugu questioned the extent of the problem, asking how many Nigerians who had been granted such transit privileges had actually absconded.
“It is not all Nigerians that want to run away. We have way too many hardworking, legitimate people to be treated differently because of a few ‘bad eggs’,” he said.
According to him, the Moroccan Mission explained that Ethiopia might experience fewer cases of passengers absconding because of its geographical location, whereas Morocco is only a few kilometres from Europe and is therefore considered a more attractive route for people seeking to enter Europe illegally.
In response, Achimugu said the Nigerian side urged the Moroccan authorities to examine their data on Nigerians who had absconded while transiting through Morocco.
“If the numbers are infinitesimal, then you have the answers you need,” he said.
He described the discussion as an interesting one, adding that the Royal Air Maroc Country Manager disclosed that the airline had already made a case for Nigerian passengers before the relevant Moroccan authorities.
According to him, the request is currently being considered, subject to a number of variables.
Achimugu said another alternative proposed to the airline was to increase the number of rooms available at airport hotels or provide lounge access for Nigerian passengers who have long layovers but do not possess Moroccan entry permits.
He noted that the airport hotels currently have about 70 rooms.
While stressing that the Nigerian government would continue to use diplomatic channels to facilitate international travel for Nigerians, Achimugu also urged citizens to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions that could undermine such efforts.
He said passengers must avoid situations that could make diplomatic interventions difficult or nearly impossible, stressing that the actions of a few individuals should not continue to negatively affect the majority of legitimate Nigerian travellers.
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