A visa-related incident involving the Chairman of BUA Group, Nigerian businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu, has sparked debate over travel fairness in Africa after he revealed that he was denied entry into South Africa due to an expired visa, while European travellers were reportedly allowed into the country without visas.
Rabiu shared the experience during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, explaining that it happened in February 2025 when he travelled from Lagos to Cape Town for the Mining Indaba conference.
According to him, the issue was discovered at immigration when officials noticed that his visa had expired just a day before arrival. This led to several hours of delay at the airport before he was eventually returned to Lagos.
He admitted responsibility for the oversight, noting that his travel team failed to properly confirm the visa’s validity before departure. However, he raised concerns about what he described as inconsistent treatment at the border.
Rabiu alleged that while he and his team were held due to visa issues, multiple flights arriving from Europe were cleared into South Africa without visas, with passengers allowed entry without similar checks.
The Nigerian businessman, who is the Chairman of BUA Group and regarded as the second richest man in Africa as of May 2026, said the experience reflects broader challenges affecting movement within the continent.
He stressed that inconsistent immigration procedures continue to hinder business expansion and regional integration efforts across Africa.
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As BUA Group expands its operations across multiple African markets, he emphasized that smoother and more coordinated travel systems are essential for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He concluded by calling for improved cooperation among African countries to ensure fairer visa policies and stronger economic collaboration across the continent.
