I Have Been Stopped From Lecturing in an African Country Because They Said I Didn’t Have a Visa– OBJ

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he was once stopped from travelling to an African country to deliver a lecture because he did not have a visa.

In a video shared by Arise TV, Obasanjo made this known while speaking at an event where he discussed the legacy of slavery and efforts to make movement between African countries easier.

He explained that he and Ghanaian President John Mahama had worked together to encourage African countries to remove visa requirements for one another. According to him, they identified about 25 African countries that already practise visa-on-arrival and called on them to allow citizens of those countries to travel freely among themselves.

Obasanjo said the plan was to begin with those countries and gradually expand the arrangement to cover the entire continent within a few years.

He also expressed disappointment over the African passport, saying that although some serving African leaders and himself have received it, the document is not recognised in many places and cannot be used effectively for travel.

He described the proposed removal of visa restrictions among African countries as a step towards achieving free movement across the continent.

In his words, “I have been stopped from going to give a lecture in an African country because they said I didn’t have a visa.”