Lumumba Advocates for Visa-Free Travel in Africa

During the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in Asaba, renowned Kenyan scholar and Pan-Africanist, Prof. PLO Lumumba, called on the Nigerian Federal Government to remove visa restrictions for Africans traveling within the continent.

He stated that these barriers undermine regional integration, trade, and the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Lumumba addressed Vice President Kashim Shettima and other dignitaries, expressing a vision where an investor from Ethiopia could arrive in Asaba without visa requirements.

He compared Africa's restrictive immigration policies unfavorably to Europe’s ease of movement and urged African nations to rely more on homegrown investors rather than foreign capital. Lumumba also challenged the Delta State Government to adopt Norway’s model for managing petroleum wealth through long-term investments, emphasizing the need for strategic resource utilization to enhance Delta's economy, which he noted is larger than that of over 20 African countries.