ABUJA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria will implement a new policy that imposes a 15-U.S. dollar daily fine on travelers who overstay their visas from August, a senior official said on Friday.

Defaulters risk a ban of five years or more from re-entering the country after the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025 takes full effect in August, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, told the media in the southwestern state of Lagos.

Tunji-Ojo said the penalties will officially begin in May, but there will be a three-month grace period until August, during which visa overstays will not be penalized.

The new penalty system is targeted at deterring the abuse of the Nigerian visa, and travelers who stay beyond three months will face a five-year ban while others who stay for one year or more after the expiration of their visas will be banned for 10 years, he said.

It is part of a broader effort to guarantee compliance, promote responsible migration, and protect national security, the minister said, adding that the Nigeria Immigration Service has been empowered to enforce the penalties. Enditem

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