The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria has officially rescinded its controversial mandate requiring married women to obtain a letter of approval from their husbands before being granted a visa clearance certificate to travel abroad.
This decision comes in response to widespread public outcry regarding gender inequality and the disproportionate impact the rule had on women’s rights.
Previously, the NDLEA’s visa clearance certificate aimed to combat drug trafficking by providing evidence that individuals had no prior drug-related convictions in Nigeria.
However, the requirement disproportionately affected married women, as no similar stipulation was placed on men, prompting discussions about equality in Nigerian laws governing travel and immigration.
The NDLEA acknowledged that this requirement was initiated due to “ugly developments” in certain source countries, who insisted on such documentation.
Nonetheless, the agency clarified that it is currently reviewing all visa clearance requirements and has decided to eliminate the stipulation for married women.
Social media has been rife with criticism of the NDLEA’s former policy, highlighting the broader issue of gender disparities entrenched in Nigerian laws.
For instance, while a Nigerian man can confer citizenship to his foreign wife, a Nigerian woman is unable to confer citizenship on her foreign husband, underscoring the need for legislative reform in these areas.
In a recent statement on social media, the NDLEA assured the public that the discriminatory requirements have been removed from its guidelines, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing gender equity within Nigeria’s legal system.