The United States Embassy in Nigeria has clarified that the recent reduction in visa validity for Nigerians is not a retaliatory move against Nigeria’s immigration reforms or diplomatic engagements.
On Tuesday, the embassy officially adjusted the duration of most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry, three-month validity.
According to Vanguard, this follows an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a 10% tariff on Nigerian exports to the United States—widely interpreted as a response to President Bola Tinubu’s attendance at the BRICS summit in Brazil.
However, addressing concerns on Friday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the U.S. Mission dismissed the notion that the visa policy change was politically motivated.
Instead, it stated that the move is part of a “global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries,” emphasizing the use of technical and security benchmarks aimed at protecting its immigration systems.
“This reduction is not related to any country’s introduction of e-visa systems, policies on deportees, or affiliations with multilateral groups like BRICS,” the statement read.
It further added that Nigeria’s refusal to accept Venezuelan deportees was not a factor in the decision.
Since 2023, Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior, led by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has introduced sweeping digital reforms, including a new visa regime, e-CERPAC, and the deployment of e-gates at major airports to streamline travel and enhance national security.
Despite these advancements, the U.S. Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong bilateral relations, stating: “We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and will continue to collaborate with government officials to support secure and lawful travel.”
The U.S. assured that Nigeria could regain longer visa validity once it meets established benchmarks.