Qatar has debunked reports circulating on social media suggesting that new visa restrictions have been imposed on Nigerians.
Speaking to BBC Pidgin on Wednesday, September 10, an official from the Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed that Nigerians are not facing any new entry restrictions.
The rumours, which spread widely online, alleged that male travellers were no longer permitted to enter Qatar unless accompanied by their families.
They also claimed that women or families applying for visas were required to present proof of a five-star hotel booking along with return flight tickets before applying.
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These claims further suggested that the supposed policy was introduced due to frequent overstays by Nigerian visitors.
But Qatar’s official e-visa platform, Hayya, clarified that the process remains unchanged.
“There has been no suspension or changes to the current procedures. If any updates are to be made, they will be announced on our official platforms,” it said told the BBC.
Travel between Nigeria and Qatar has grown in recent years, partly because of strained ties between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, which imposed visa restrictions and suspended flights from 2021 until 2024.
For now, Qatari authorities maintain that Nigerians can still apply for visas through the usual channels without any added restrictions.