Founder of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC), Sir Victor Oluwafemi, has called on the Federal Government to match Nigeria’s expanding bilateral and trade agreements with practical visa access for Nigerians, warning that economic diplomacy without mobility delivers only “half-wins.”

Oluwafemi, who is also the founder of the Douglas Development Institute (DDI), made the call in a statement at the weekend, noting that while Nigeria’s renewed push in bilateral agreements, trade instruments and aviation partnerships is a strategic step forward, their impact remains limited if Nigerians cannot easily travel to activate them.

“Trade without mobility is a half-win,” he said. “Agreements that Nigerians cannot practically access appear impressive on paper but are weak in the real economy.”

He observed that across many partner jurisdictions, Nigerians travelling for business, investment, conferences, education and professional engagements still face slow, uncertain and discretionary visa processes.

“Where processing timelines are unpredictable, appointments are scarce, and decisions inconsistent, it becomes difficult to convert trade promises into transactions and partnerships into measurable outcomes,” Oluwafemi said.

According to him, visa constraints are no longer merely consular issues but competitiveness challenges that directly affect Nigeria’s ability to benefit from its international deals.

“A trade agreement only works when traders can meet buyers, inspect goods, conclude contracts and support delivery. An investment partnership works only when investors can deploy teams, conduct due diligence and execute quickly. An airline arrangement becomes commercially viable only when passenger access is reliable and predictable,” he added.

He warned that without visa facilitation, Nigeria risks building international corridors “that look open but function as closed.”

Oluwafemi urged the government to adopt a national standard requiring every major bilateral economic instrument to include reciprocal visa facilitation and mobility protocols focused on delivery rather than ceremony.

He proposed a three-track framework: an Official Mobility Track for fast-tracked government delegations and priority missions; a Verified Business Mobility Track offering multi-entry visas and accelerated processing for exporters, investors and trade missions; and a Professional and Talent Mobility Track for technical experts, creatives, academics and service providers aligned with bilateral priorities.

“Nigeria is entitled to reciprocity. If Nigeria’s doors are open through cooperation frameworks, partner countries’ doors must also open to legitimate Nigerian travellers,” he said.

He cautioned that failure to address mobility imbalances creates a system in which agreements benefit the movement of capital while restricting the movement of Nigerians needed to deliver results.

“Silence on this issue is costly. It fuels public frustration, weakens confidence in economic diplomacy and reinforces the perception that bilateral agreements are elite instruments rather than national opportunities,” Oluwafemi stated.

He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat mobility as a core pillar of economic statecraft by mandating visa facilitation clauses as standard annexes to trade deals, aviation arrangements and partnership frameworks.

In addition, he proposed that Nigeria publish measurable delivery indicators for partner countries, including processing timelines for verified applicants and access to multi-entry visa pathways.

“Nigeria has shown momentum in signing agreements. The next test is whether Nigerians can access, use and monetise them,” Oluwafemi said.