NDLEA clarifies That long-standing policy driven by destination countries with strict drug laws
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has addressed claims circulating on Thursday that married women are now required to present approval letters from their husbands for visa clearance. The agency clarified that this condition is not new and has been in place for several years but was temporarily halted last year.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi , explained that the policy was introduced less than a decade ago after several married Nigerian women were arrested for drug trafficking in Asian countries. As a result, certain countries imposed stricter visa clearance requirements, including the husband’s consent for married women traveling abroad.
“The requirement is not from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; it’s mandated by some of the destination countries,” Babafemi stated, noting that these countries include Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Russia, among others. These nations have harsh penalties for drug-related offenses, which can include life imprisonment or even death.
He further noted that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is currently reviewing the visa clearance process to ensure smoother applications, emphasizing that these countries prioritize the visa clearance document before granting visas.
For Nigerian citizens traveling to any of these nations, obtaining NDLEA visa clearance remains a crucial part of the application process.
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