Monday 06 April, 2026

Three Nigerians with valid visas were detained at Johannesburg airport. One had old posts the South African government didn't like.

Three Nigerians arrived at OR Tambo International Airport last week with valid visas and complete documentation. They were stopped. Detained. One had his phone seized.

One of them posted on X: "Myself and three other Nigerians have been unlawfully detained in Johannesburg airport for literally doing nothing, papers complete, visa valid." He said they were being refused permission to book a return flight. He published in case anything happened.

NIDCOM intervened. All three were cleared and are expected in Lagos this morning.

But NIDCOM's statement after the resolution is the part worth keeping. One traveller had previously posted remarks criticising the South African government online. That had placed him on a watchlist. When immigration officers questioned him at the port of entry, he couldn't defend those posts. It made things worse.

NIDCOM also flagged a second problem. He'd used an unregulated visa agent. These agents often complete key sections of the application without the traveller's full knowledge. Purpose of visit. Accommodation. Ties to Nigeria. When the immigration officer asks why you're here, you can't answer properly because someone else answered on your behalf months ago.

The practical warnings are worth keeping. Apply directly or through licensed agents only. Be able to defend every line of your application. And be mindful of what you've posted publicly. Immigration authorities are increasingly checking social media as part of entry decisions. A post from two years ago can become a problem at a border today. That's not paranoia. It's what happened last week.

Your posts don't stay online. They travel ahead of you. Every Nigerian planning to travel anywhere this year should know that now.