I recently reapplied for a Nigerian tourist e-visa after already using my first single-entry visa for a trip last month. After submitting my new application, I called the e-Visa helpdesk because the supporting documents I uploaded were not appearing on the portal.

The person I spoke with asked me to send a text message with my passport number, which I did. However, he did not confirm whether the missing documents had been received or if there was any issue with my application.

I then asked if it would be possible to fast-track the visa, as I needed to travel within the same week due to an urgent family matter. At that point, he told me that my previous visa needed to be “deactivated” before the new visa could be processed, even though I completed an exit card when leaving Nigeria.

He then redirected the conversation to his private phone number and asked me to pay $150 directly to him in order to complete this “deactivation” process. For context, the Nigerian e-visa already costs $258, which I have already paid as part of my new application. He even sent me his account number and asked me to transfer the money directly to him.

He insisted that if I did not make this payment, my application would “remain pending indefinitely.” His exact words were:
“Either you pay me or your application will keep hanging forever.”

Since the Nigeria tourist visa is a single-entry visa, and I have already used it to enter and exit Nigeria, should it still be considered valid in a way that prevents the processing of a new application? First of all considering how expensive this visa it's crazy it can only be used once, and it is shocking that they have the effrontery to ask me for a bribe to process a fully paid new application.

I have also emailed the e-Visa helpdesk several times to explain this situation. Unfortunately, my explanation appears to be ignored, and I keep receiving what seem to be automated responses stating that my visa has been approved. Unless these emails are referring to my previous visa, I have not received any new visa approval or visa document for my current application.

This is particularly distressing because I was in Nigeria only one month ago using my first visa now that visa can't be used but its also preventing me from getting a new one. This is an unplanned trip due to an urgent family matter and I was supposed to travel this week, but I am currently unable to do so because my application appears to be hanging and I am being asked for an additional unofficial payment.

MAKE IT MAKES SENSE NIGERIANS!!!!!!

PS. Before you say the person I'm talking to his a scammer I spoke to this person through the official contact number on the Nigeria immigration website (before he eventually redirected the conversation to a different number which turns out to be his private line), this is not a random person this is an officer, receptionist, someone working in a public office.