The U.S. Mission Nigeria has addressed what it called misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries. This reduction, as the Mission put it on is X handle, is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.
It went further: “The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.
“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations. Learn more.”
There have been many interpretations of the new policy on non-diplomatic visas that will henceforth be issued to citizens of Nigeria, which will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period. It was announced on 8 June 2025. It was for this reason that official statements emanated from the Nigerian government. While many see this as a development that could strain relations between Nigeria, others regard what is happening as a subtle blackmail of the country by the US. In other words, not a few Nigerians believe that despite the diplomatic double-speak of the United States, it has something against up its sleeves against Nigeria!
In a way that was akin to the 1822 shipping of freed slaves to Liberia under President James Monroe after whom Monrovia was named, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said the United States is mounting pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelan deportees, stating that it would be difficult for Nigeria to do.
The minister also clarified that the fresh 10 per cent tariffs imposed on Nigeria by President Donald Trump’s administration may not have anything to do with President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the BRICS nations.
Tuggar stated this on Friday evening, during a One-on-One interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in BRICS.
“You have to also bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prison.
“It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own.
“We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud. We already have 230 million people. You will be the same people that would castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelans from US prisons to be brought in,” he said.
US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, met with five West African Presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal at the White House, Washington, D.C.
Trump also announced a 10 per cent tariff on Nigerian goods exported to the US, as many believed this was coming following President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil to participate in the BRICS summit, after Trump’s threat.
On Tuesday, the US Embassy in Nigeria also announced visa restrictions for Nigerians as it effected single-entry three-month visa validity.
Tuggar, however, said the tariff hike and other sanctions may not necessarily be a result of Nigeria becoming a partner member of BRICS.
The minister also said accepting Venezuelan deportees into Nigeria may only be the beginning, adding that it would be unfair for the US to insist on Nigeria’s acceptance.
“The issue of accepting Venezuelan deportees, honestly, I don’t think is something that Nigeria is in a position to work with.
“And I think it would be unfair to insist that Nigeria accepts 300 Venezuelan deportees. Maybe that might just even be the beginning,” Tuggar said.
He also addressed the new visa policy by the US, noting that the claim that the new policy was based on reciprocity was false.
The minister explained that Nigeria operated and issued a 90-day visa policy, the same as the US, stating that the only difference was that Nigeria had introduced electronic e-visas to save time.
“We are talking to the Americans. We are engaging them. We are also explaining and reminding them that we issue them five-year multiple entry visas, the same way that they issue regular travellers five-year multiple entry visas.
“What Nigeria has done that differs is simple. We used to have a visa-on-arrival that wasn’t running efficiently.
“We introduced these online electronic visas that you can apply for so that it saves you time, instead of just arriving and then going through the process of getting the visa when you have already arrived.
“We have different categories of visas. There are people who are first-time travellers who are coming as tourists that are probably not likely to come back to Nigeria again, maybe because they’re coming for a short while, and they get those 90-day visas.
“So our visa is not saying that every American is only being given 90-day visas or three months or whatever. We give Americans, there are loads of Americans that have these long-term visas. It is not based on reciprocity,” the minister stated.
Also, concerning the misinformation and fake news circulating online that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens, in accordance with the principle of subsisting bilateral agreements and reciprocity, the Presidency reacted.
As contained in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a service-wide directive that Nigeria implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly stated the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the recent adjustment made by the United States’ non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
The Ministry and other senior government officials will continue to engage with the United States to address the unfavourable restrictions in a just and fair manner that reflects the mutual respect and partnership that so exist between our two friendly nations.
Onanuga went further: “We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation.
The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting US citizens a 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the US has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.
The 90-day single-entry Visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-Visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait. The e-visa replaces the now obsolete Visa-on-arrival, which was inefficient and often used as a means of extortion. The e-visa is a fast, online process that does not require the applicant to go to the embassy. Applicants receive the e-Visa within 48 hours of submitting their application.
The e-visa policy aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to boost investment, trade, and tourism in the country, as well as promote the ease of doing business for non-nationals. Moreover, e-visas are a widely adopted global policy in dozens of countries.
Although Nigeria has an e-visa policy for citizens of the US and several other countries, the US has not reciprocated this gesture for Nigerians.
In the spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, and partnership that have characterised the relationship between Nigeria and the United States over the decades, the Tinubu-led administration will continue to dialogue and engage with US authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments.”
On 8 June, the United States Department of State announced updates to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy, impacting several countries, including Nigeria. Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.
Those U.S. non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity. “We wish to underscore, that as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.”
U.S. visa criteria and standards are, as the Mission put it, designed to protect the integrity of U.S. immigration systems. “These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks. The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria.”
The United States wrote that it values its longstanding relationship with Nigeria and remains committed to “expanding our partnership based on mutual respect, shared security priorities, and economic opportunity, keeping both our countries safer and stronger. We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices. We continue to engage with Nigerian government officials to address the remaining challenges.”
“Nigerian travelers are encouraged to respect and adhere to the terms of their visas, and ensure travel documents are authentic, accurate, and up to date. The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria via business, educational, and cultural exchanges. We look forward to continued cooperation at all levels with the Nigerian public and government officials to ensure safe and lawful travel between the United States and all countries.”
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