Renowned Kenyan scholar and Pan-Africanist, Prof. PLO Lumumba, has called on the Federal Government to eliminate visa requirements for Africans travelling to Nigeria, asserting that unrestricted movement across the continent is vital for economic integration, trade, and investment. Speaking on Monday at the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba, Lumumba emphasised that Africa cannot fully leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while maintaining restrictive immigration policies against fellow Africans.
Lumumba's Address to Dignitaries
Addressing Vice President Kashim Shettima and other dignitaries, the former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission stressed that Nigeria, as Sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy, should lead the charge in promoting free movement across the continent. According to Punch reports, Lumumba expressed his aspiration for a future where African investors could travel freely into Nigeria without visas, landing cards, or exit cards, describing such reforms as essential for deeper regional integration.
Lumumba drew a comparison between Africa's current travel restrictions and Europe's open-border system, noting that easier movement has significantly contributed to Europe's economic growth and competitiveness. He argued that African countries should dismantle unnecessary barriers that make travelling between neighbouring states more difficult than travelling to destinations outside the continent.
Five Key Recommendations by PLO Lumumba
1. Remove Visa Requirements for Africans
Lumumba urged Nigeria to eliminate visa restrictions for African citizens, stating that free movement would encourage business, tourism, and stronger regional cooperation. He argued that an investor from Ethiopia, Ghana, or any other African country should be able to travel to Nigeria without cumbersome immigration procedures.
2. Promote African Investment
The Pan-Africanist called on governments to stop relying primarily on investors from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, insisting that Africans possess the financial capacity and expertise needed to drive the continent's development. He said future investment summits should attract more entrepreneurs and business leaders from across Africa.
3. Learn from Europe's Integration Model
Using Europe as an example, Lumumba said Africans should pursue greater economic integration by reducing barriers to movement and cross-border trade. He noted that Europe's openness has made commerce and investment easier across multiple countries.
4. Invest Oil Wealth for Future Generations
Lumumba encouraged the Delta State Government to emulate Norway's sovereign wealth fund by investing petroleum revenues in long-term development projects instead of focusing solely on oil production. According to him, prudent management of natural resources is more important than simply generating revenue.
5. Prioritise Reliable Electricity
He also described energy as the backbone of industrial development, saying sustainable economic growth would remain difficult without dependable electricity. Lumumba urged governments to place energy infrastructure among their highest development priorities.
Delta State's Economic Potential
The Kenyan scholar further noted that Delta State's economy is already larger than those of several African countries, but challenged the state to strategically harness its resources, including agriculture, minerals, oil, pharmaceuticals, and the blue economy, to achieve long-term prosperity.
This call comes amid broader discussions on Africa's economic integration under the AfCFTA, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services. Lumumba's remarks highlight the persistent challenges of intra-African travel, which often require visas and other bureaucratic hurdles, hindering trade and investment flows.
In a related development, the United States has moved to revoke the citizenship of a Nigerian national convicted in a major identity theft and tax fraud scheme. The Department of Justice filed a civil complaint to strip Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem of his American citizenship, as reported by Legit.ng.
