An increase in drug trafficking and fraudulent activities by Nigerian passport holders have raised concerns at the government level causing Seychelles' authorities to tighten border control when processing applications for their entry into the country, said a top official on Thursday.

Vice President Ahmed Afif told reporters that Nigerians with diplomatic passports, valid work or resident permits issued by the island nation will be allowed to enter.

“For the others, the government will keep its eyes open and SEBS (Seychelles Electronic Border System) will analyse much more to find out what reasons they are coming example someone who is coming for a holiday for only one day. We have to ask questions because it is strange and we have seen that happening,” explained Afif.

He added that there were many instances where many Nigerians said they were coming for holidays but only for one or two days.

“When we checked the payments made for them to come to Seychelles, it is from only one source. This is for different people coming on different days which shows an organised syndicate," said Afif.

He explained that in the past year, especially the past few months, the government has observed "a tendency that we have deemed as dangerous for our border control and economy, due to criminal activities happening in the country."

"We have seen a clear link between this with certain people from Nigeria. In the past two weeks, for example, 13 people coming from Nigeria have been arrested when entering Seychelles because they were carrying drugs into the country," said the Vice President.

He added that in the past months, there have been incidents where Nigerians have used false credit cards at tourist establishments.

"In one case, 62 Nigerians who said they were on holiday used false credit cards, and the money was never credited to the accounts of these establishments. These establishments have lost money. These people spent free holidays in the country at the expense of the establishment owners and there is nothing that can be done for them," Afif said.

He also outlined that there have been other incidents implicating financial institutions and in one case Nigerians were involved in a fraud where £1 million was lost.

"There are other online scams originating from Nigeria. We have seen that these people are also coming to Seychelles and doing those scams. We do not have a problem with Nigeria or its people though we do not tolerate such criminal activities in our country," said Afif.

Last Saturday, debates started on social media platforms about an alleged ban on Nigerian passport holders entering Seychelles for holiday purposes. This came after a Twitter user shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a rejected entry application from SEBS.

"We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now, we are not accepting any Nigerian passport holder for holiday purposes," read the screenshot.

Speaking on the delay of response from the government, Afif said that there was a lack of communication on the matter and "it should be noted that the information that was circulated was not official, coming from a system and it was done in a non-coordinated manner."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, is set to meet with the Nigerian ambassador for Seychelles to discuss the matter.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, seeks to look at how it can place Nigerians that have been convicted in the island nation in the hands of the relevant Nigerian authorities.

http://m.seychellesnewsagency.com/view_news.php?id=18980

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7757628/seychelles-places-ban-nigerian-passport#124304812

Chai my Nigeria...who do us this thing?

That one no do, we come still get the overall drug kingpin himself as our president.

Nigerians should desist from such shenanigans, they commit crime anywhere they go

I won't blame the government of seychelless for doing that, we don't like our own country but they like their own, so behave yourself when you travel out of Nigeria

Why are we so much hated our there? are nigerians the only foreign nationals in other countries?

From south Africa to seychelles, UK, America, China, India, Cambodia and Indonesia, our people are everywhere doing nonsense and spoiling our name

There's no need trying to pin the blame on any tribe here.

We know

Should have allowed them in and help us execute them

femisplash:

Coming from ibo.. what a shame. Nigerians are being denied visas for holiday because your brothers have taken their development to Sychelles.

Every region in this country has the bad eggs amongst them

You and I know those who are notorious for credit card frauds but because of your hate for the Igbo you chose to ignore the below.

"In one case, 62 Nigerians who said they were on holiday used false credit cards, and the money was never credited to the accounts of these establishments. These establishments have lost money. These people spent free holidays in the country at the expense of the establishment owners and there is nothing that can be done for them," Afif said.

femisplash:

Coming from ibo.. what a shame. Nigerians are being denied visas for holiday because your brothers have taken their development to Sychelles.

It still doesn't change the fact that your brother who was selected to be our president is the overall drug trafficker in Nigeria.

Bobloco:


Every region in this country has the bad eggs amongst them

You and I know those who are notorious for credit card frauds but because of your hate for the Igbo you chose to ignore the below.

"In one case, 62 Nigerians who said they were on holiday used false credit cards, and the money was never credited to the accounts of these establishments. These establishments have lost money. These people spent free holidays in the country at the expense of the establishment owners and there is nothing that can be done for them," Afif said.

Not just card fraud alone, skull mining too.

Peter girigory Obi people

SwissMass:
Peter girigory Obi people

Fear that drug kingpin called Tinubu and his people, if you know you know

No be Nigerians again?

A people who think only fools are upright.

Abi no be this Nairaland some Nigerians were condemning a Muslim pilgrim for returning some US Dollars cash that was found while on pilgrimage in Mecca?

We no longer have a soul or national conscience.

Ndi drug Lord from that side have done it again


The developer of the Universe 😂

Only South Africa remain now

Yourbaslayer:



Fear that drug kingpin called Tinubu and his people, if you know you know

At least pretend as if you get shame even if you no get at all


99% of drug related offences committed by Nigerians in diaspora are committed by Ndi headless mobs
Thank you Daddy people with no direction

The nigerian government needs to harden their drugs and frauds law

Nigeria needs a super max prison , Tinubu should build us let's firms finance the facility .

loosecanon50:
Chai my Nigeria fellow Ibos ...who do us this thing?

Ohu

Throwback:
No be Nigerians again?

A people who think only fools are upright.

Abi no be this Nairaland some Nigerians were condemning a Muslim pilgrim for returning some US Dollars cash that was found while on pilgrimage in Mecca?

We no longer have a soul or national conscience.

[color=#006600][/color]

The society needs total brain resetting programming. A lot of people are just too messed up. People who can confidently vote in funny characters as leaders. When Buhari was the president, a certain section of the country supported all he's policy wholeheartedly and they never saw anything wrong in he's government.
I am patiently waiting for them to start criticizing Tinubu's government. I will like to know on what grounds will their criticism be based on?

Toh

Of course that will be your problem not multitude of your cursed tribesmen peddling drugs across the the globe.

Sychelles should adopt the Asia method n behead any bastard peddling drugs not from their country.

loosecanon50:
Chai my Nigeria...who do us this thing?

That one no do, we come still get the overall drug kingpin himself as our president

There is a need to pin blame on who duly deserve that's the only cure to the madness except you igbos want to keep deceiving your fathers.

God1000:
Nigerians should desist from such shenanigans, they commit crime anywhere they go

I won't blame the government of sychelless for trying to protect their country, we don't like our own country but they like their own, so behave yourself when you travel out of Nigeria

Why are we so much hated our there? are nigerians the only foreign nationals in other countries?

From south Africa to sychelless, UK, America, China, India, Cambodia and Indonesia, our people are everywhere doing nonsense and spoiling our name

There's no need trying to pin the blame on any tribe here.

Such a shame...but I'm not surprised.

nairalandkachy1:


http://m.seychellesnewsagency.com/view_news.php?id=18980

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7757628/seychelles-places-ban-nigerian-passport#124304812

Nlfpmod Mynd44

Dem don take drug trafficking swear for these lazy people.

Anywhere I see Drug trafficking...My mind goes to their leader straight up..If the president can do it,who are we?

Release MNK..He predicted your presidency

EcoNews:
There is a need to pin blame on who duly deserve that's the only cure to the madness except you igbos want to keep deceiving your fathers.

Minority trash of a failed news outlet

Ola9ja23:


At least pretend as if you get shame even if you no get at all


99% of drug related offences committed by Nigerians in diaspora are committed by Ndi headless mobs
Thank you Daddy people with no direction

Slaves will never rest...disturbing the online plantation with songs of freedom

I repeat again, our system condone lawlessness
We should endeavor to correct and punish offences internally, but strange religious teaching of forgiveness, without punishment and tribal sentiment appears to be ruining our reputation.