The Republic of Seychelles has mandated a travel ban specifically targeted at Nigerian passport holders who seeking short-term visas or planning vacations. This pronouncement came officially from the website of the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. It listed Nigeria among the countries deemed unqualified for such visas or vacations.
A prominent travel content creator took to Twitter under the handle @munafromtravelletters to share a screenshot of the correspondence on Saturday to confirm the ban.
The screenshot revealed the message: “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation. For now, we are not accepting any NIGERIAN passport holders for holiday purposes. Kindly contact http://www.ics.gov.sc/ (Seychelles Immigration) or call 248 4 293 636 for more information.” The ban has left numerous Nigerian travellers, looking forward to their dream vacations in Seychelles, disappointed and confused.
This recent development comes as a surprise especially considering that just six months ago, Nigeria and Seychelles signed an agreement establishing direct flights between the two countries to foster collaboration.
Prior to this ban, Nigerian citizens enjoyed a longstanding visa-free arrangement with Seychelles, granting them the privilege of entering the country without a visa for a generous duration of 30 days. This mutually beneficial agreement has uplifted the tourism sector and strengthened economic ties between the two nations.
The sudden enforcement of this travel ban has raised concerns and questions within both the Nigerian and Seychellois communities. The reasons behind the ban are still unclear as travellers and industry experts are speculating about potential factors influencing the Seychellois authorities’ shift in policy.
To address the situation, affected Nigerian passport holders are advised to seek additional information directly from Seychelles Immigration through their website or by contacting the provided phone number.