Nigeria: Fake Schengen Visas Surge As Nigerian Passengers Abscond During Morocco Transit
[Leadership] The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has raised the alarm over a sharp increase in the use of fake Schengen visa stamps by passengers travelling to Europe, with some Nigerians allegedly absconding during transit in Morocco.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has warned of a surge in the use of fake Schengen visas by Nigerian passengers traveling to Europe, with some reportedly absconding during transit in Morocco. The issue has heightened as some Nigerians deliberately book long layovers in Casablanca to secure hotel accommodations, only to evade immigration and attempt illegal entry into Europe.
Concerns have been raised about the sophisticated nature of these fake visas, which could easily slip past inexperienced immigration and airline profiling officers. In response, Morocco has tightened entry restrictions for Nigerian passengers without visas, even when they are otherwise eligible for hotel accommodations during long transit periods.
The Nigerian government is engaging diplomatically with Moroccan authorities to differentiate between genuine travelers and those attempting to exploit transit arrangements for illegal entry. The NCAA suggests that Ethiopia serves as a model for accommodating transit passengers without compromising immigration controls, as Ethiopians with hotel reservations do not require visas when flying Ethiopian Airlines.
The NCAA also proposed that more accommodation be provided for genuine Nigerian passengers with lengthy layovers who are denied entry into Morocco, possibly by increasing hotel rooms or providing access to airport lounges.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
