Afreximbank IATF: Adewale Tinubu Calls for Visa-Free Africa to Boost Intra-Continental Trade

At the recently concluded Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the spotlight was on a challenge that has long stifled Africa’s growth — intra-African visa restrictions.

During a fireside chat, Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, issued a powerful call for Africans to dismantle the barriers hindering trade and integration across the continent. He emphasized that one of the most glaring yet often overlooked walls is the complex and outdated visa system that continues to make travel within Africa cumbersome.

Reflecting on Tinubu’s remarks, Alero Balogun, General Manager of Corporate Communications, recounted how he challenged Africans to rethink the structures that are holding back the continent’s progress. “How can we promote intra-African trade if Africans still require visas to visit other African countries?” she asked, echoing Tinubu’s concerns.

The contrast with other regions could not be sharper. Within the European Union, citizens move across borders seamlessly. Even non-EU nationals enjoy simplified entry procedures. In the United States, British travelers obtain electronic travel waivers in minutes. Yet in Africa, many citizens face prolonged, uncertain, and often humiliating visa application processes — with no guarantee of approval, even when holding valid American or British visas.

Beyond visas, air connectivity remains another obstacle. Limited direct flights, lengthy layovers, and high costs make traveling across African borders not just inconvenient but prohibitive. A trip that should take a few hours can easily turn into an exhausting journey, undermining collaboration, tourism, and regional commerce.

Balogun reflected that these restrictions amount to barriers to Africa’s own progress. “If it is this difficult for Africans to trade, visit, or collaborate with one another, how can we truly begin to build from the inside out?” she questioned.

The message from the IATF fireside chat is clear: dismantling visa restrictions and improving regional connectivity are no longer optional. They are urgent economic imperatives if Africa is to unlock the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and position itself as a global powerhouse.

At Afreximbank’s IATF, Oando’s Adewale Tinubu reignites the call for visa-free movement across Africa, warning that restrictive travel policies and poor connectivity remain barriers to trade, collaboration, and economic growth.