African business mobility is hampered by Nigerian passport restrictions, limiting opportunities for women leaders and continental economic growth
Nigerian business mobility across Africa remains severely constrained by visa restrictions and fragmented travel systems, according to experts, raising concerns over economic and gender inclusion.
The warnings were highlighted in a report by human capital strategist Habibah A. Waziri and policy adviser Oswald Osaretin Guobadia.
Waziri noted that although Nigeria is projected to be the world’s third most populous nation by 2050 and holds significant cultural and economic influence, its passport limits access to neighbouring African markets.
“Mobility is not a travel issue; it is infrastructure revealed in boarding passes,” she said, highlighting that 72 per cent of intra-African travel still requires a visa for Nigerian travellers.
The constraints disproportionately affect women in leadership.
Waziri explained that business trips meant to close deals within 48 hours can extend to weeks due to consular delays and opaque visa rules, often resulting in organisations assigning the trips to male colleagues instead.
She termed this the “Infrastructure Filter,” which quietly limits women’s visibility and influence on the continent.
The authors argued that these mobility barriers also create economic inefficiencies.
Women represent up to 70 per cent of informal cross-border trade but face the highest formal mobility restrictions, limiting continental GDP growth.
Waziri and Guobadia stressed that realising the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) requires transforming mobility into a critical economic infrastructure, akin to ports, power, and digital networks.
They proposed a continental framework for business travel, where trusted professionals are pre-vetted and issued digital credentials recognised across African states.
This system would allow entrepreneurs to move seamlessly between countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, reducing time lost to visa queues and redundant travel.
Guobadia emphasised that several regional initiatives are already underway to address the issue, including visa-free regimes, common passports, and digital identity platforms.
However, he warned that fragmented implementation hampers meaningful impact.
“We need a ‘Big Tent’ approach where governments, development partners, investors, and the business community align to make African mobility predictable, secure, and efficient,” he said.
The report concluded that unless African governments and stakeholders prioritise mobility as a strategic infrastructure challenge, the continent risks leaving value creators grounded, particularly women leaders, and undermining the economic potential of AfCFTA.
Business3 years ago
