by Rachel Ogbu

The Commonwealth of Nations plan to introduce a visa free regime for its member states is underway, Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru says.

On Monday at a meeting with the Secretary General of the organisation, Kamalesh Sharma in Abuja, Ashiru stated: “In the past, it used to be that holders of Commonwealth passports could travel within the commonwealth countries easily without having to go and queue for visas. We are now thinking for ways to ensure that we bring back this old tradition of the Commonwealth.

“Already, the council of ministers have recommended for approval at the next CHOGOM meeting in Colombo the exemption of holders of official and diplomatic passports within the Commonwealth from the requirement of a visa if they are travelling within the commonwealth.”

Sharma allegedly concurred saying there was the need to encourage better trade and investment relationship among member nations.

If approved, the minister said other categories of professionals and businessmen would be recommended for similar privileges.

But first, the council of ministers of the organisation is to hand in a proposal for holders of official and diplomatic passports to be exempted from visa requirements at the next CHOGOM meeting scheduled to hold in Colombo, Siri Lanka.

“We also discussed the issue of free movement to promote people to people contact within the Commonwealth,” he said.

According to reports, Ashiru said that he and the Secretary General discussed areas of mutual interest including strengthening democratic institutions, education and job creation.