Renowned Kenyan scholar and Pan-African advocate, Prof. PLO Lumumba, has appealed to the Nigerian government to take the lead in dismantling visa restrictions among African nations, arguing that the continent cannot attain genuine economic integration while citizens continue to face barriers to movement.
Speaking during the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in Asaba, Lumumba said Africa’s economic aspirations, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), would remain difficult to achieve if governments maintained restrictive immigration policies.
Addressing Vice President Kashim Shettima, government officials, business leaders and other participants, the former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission described Nigeria as the economic powerhouse of Sub-Saharan Africa and expressed hope that it would champion freer movement across the continent.
According to him, the ideal future is one where African entrepreneurs and investors can travel seamlessly from one country to another without the burden of visas, landing cards or unnecessary entry procedures. He noted that such openness would encourage investment, deepen regional trade and strengthen economic cooperation among African nations.
Drawing parallels with Europe, Lumumba observed that several European countries have successfully removed many cross-border restrictions, enabling the free movement of people, goods and services. He argued that Africa must embrace a similar approach if it hopes to compete effectively in the global economy, warning that excessive bureaucratic barriers continue to slow the continent’s development.
The Pan-Africanist also challenged African governments to change their perception of investment by placing greater confidence in African entrepreneurs and financiers rather than relying predominantly on investors from outside the continent. He urged organisers of future investment summits to attract wider participation from across Africa, insisting that Africans possess both the expertise and financial strength required to drive the continent’s transformation.
Turning to Delta State’s economic prospects, Lumumba encouraged the state government to emulate Norway’s prudent management of petroleum resources. He pointed to Norway’s globally acclaimed sovereign wealth fund as an example of how natural resource revenues can be invested strategically for long-term national prosperity, stressing that the true value of oil lies not merely in its extraction but in the wisdom with which its proceeds are managed.
He further observed that Delta State’s economy already surpasses those of many African countries in size. However, he challenged the state to maximise its vast potential in sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and the blue economy in ways that align with the demands of a modern global economy.
mumba concluded by underscoring the central role of electricity in industrialisation and sustainable development. He maintained that no economy can achieve meaningful growth without a stable and reliable energy supply, urging policymakers to treat power development as a strategic priority for economic advancement.This version is written in a magazine-style feature while retaining the substance of Prof. Lumumba’s remarks in an original narrative suitable for publication.
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