BUA Group CEO Denied Entry to South Africa Over Expired Visa While Europeans Walked In

The founder and CEO of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, shared a personal ordeal at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali. He travelled from Lagos to Cape Town for the Mining Indaba in February 2025, only to be turned back at immigration when officials discovered his visa had expired the day before. Rabiu waited for hours at the airport before being sent back to Lagos. He noted that while he and his team were delayed over visa issues, passengers from several European flights were admitted without visas. He accepted responsibility for the oversight but called the incident a reflection of broader challenges facing Africans moving within the continent. He urged African governments to address visa inequities that disadvantage citizens travelling between African nations. Rabiu stressed that welcoming policies must change to foster true intra-African cooperation and mobility.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.