The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced changes to its visa clearance procedures, addressing a controversial requirement that recently sparked significant backlash.
OsunDailyNG reports that a key issue was the provision mandating married women to submit an approval letter from their husbands as part of the visa application process. This rule, which circulated widely on social media on Wednesday, drew sharp criticism, with many describing it as outdated and discriminatory.
In response, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that the agency had removed the controversial provision.
Babafemi explained that the decision is part of a broader review of the agency’s visa clearance process.
“The entire procedure for visa clearance issued by the NDLEA, as required by some countries, is currently under review, and the requirement for a married woman to present a letter of approval from her husband to travel is one of the items the Agency has since discarded as a non-mandatory requirement,” the statement read.
“The inclusion of this item initially arose due to certain unfavorable developments in some source countries.”
Babafemi further assured the public that the revised requirements will be made public soon, bringing the policy in line with contemporary standards.
