The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revised its visa clearance policy, eliminating the requirement for married women to obtain a letter of approval from their husbands in order to travel.
The contentious requirement has garnered significant criticism on social media, with numerous individuals expressing their disapproval and describing it as antiquated, discriminatory, and a manifestation of government-endorsed misogyny.
On Thursday, October 10, 2024, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, issued a statement announcing the removal of the provision as part of an ongoing comprehensive review of the procedure.
The NDLEA is currently reviewing the entire procedure for visa clearance, including the requirement for married women to present a letter of approval from their husbands to travel. This requirement has been discarded as a non-mandatory requirement due to certain unfavorable developments in some source countries.
“Members of the public are assured that this item has been removed from the list of requirements in the ongoing review, which will be made public in the coming days.”
