Expert warns visa applicants against fake agents
A tourism expert, Mr Ayodeji Awomoyi, on Sunday advised visa applicants against patronising fake agents.
Awomoyi, who is the Principal Executive of Flyzone Tourism, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He decried the increase in cases of visa scam in Nigeria.
He said patronising fake visa agents could lead to financial loss, document theft, visa denial, emotional distress and legal consequences.
He, however, advised all visa applicants to verify thoroughly the veracity of their agents before any commitment.
“Patronising fake visa agents can damage applicants’ reputation and can also bring about visa ban.
“There is need for everyone applying for visa to protect themselves by verifying agent’s credentials, check for official licence and registration, as well as seek advice from trusted travel agents.
“Individuals must also be conscious of online advertisements on visa procurement,” he said.
Awomoyi who had been involved in visa procurement within Nigeria and across the globe in the last 20 years, said it was unfortunate that Nigerians still fall victim of visa scam in spite warnings from different quarters.
Explaining how Flyzone Tourism helps in visa procurement, Awomoyi said, “We connect travel agencies with countries and their visas.
“Processing visas for us has been easy because we already have good relationship with most of these countries based on our algorism and business relationship, so, it is easier to connect to these countries and their tourism board than for a travel agent to connect them directly.
“So, we are like a middle platform between the travel agents and other tourism boards of other countries across the globe.
“We are not taking over the job of the travel agents, they are to source for tourism sites for their clients, before this, they should have made necessary connections about getting their visas from us.”
Awomoyi noted that the company was currently working with no fewer than 8,900 travels agents in Nigeria, also having franchise with Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.
Commenting on the recently concluded AKWAABA African Travel and Tourism Market, Awomoyi described the platform as the best avenue to sell Nigerian tourism to the global community.
He said the platform had impacted positively on his travel business and also helped travel agencies, tour operators, embassies, airlines, hotels and tourism boards to connect with one another.
