By Jeremy Fregene
Contrary to speculation that the United States’ recent visa policy change toward Nigerian nationals stems from a diplomatic rift, the US government has clarified that the move is primarily driven by high visa overstay rates among Nigerians and the need for reliable access to applicants’ records.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the US government formally notified Nigerian authorities that its decision to reduce visa validity was based on “two principal factors: the current rate of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals and the need for reliable access to their records.”
He further stated that the US emphasized the change was part of its global visa reciprocity process, which is regularly reviewed and can result in changes to visa duration and entry permissions for foreign nationals.
Under the revised policy, Nigerian applicants will now receive three-month single-entry visas instead of the five-year multiple-entry visas previously issued.
Though the US embassy initially cited reciprocity as the reason for the change, it later clarified that the decision was part of a wider global review of US visa protocols.
However, Onanuga noted that a key issue remains the overstaying of visas by some Nigerian nationals, and the US government’s desire to improve information-sharing with Nigerian authorities regarding visa applicants’ records.
There has also been growing speculation that the US may be tightening visa requirements for Nigerians in response to Nigeria’s opposition to a reported plan by Washington to resettle undocumented migrants , including Venezuelans, in African countries, Nigeria among them.
Last week, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, appeared to address the matter directly when he said, “Nigeria will not be a dumping ground for illegal migrants.”
Onanuga, however, said that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all federal agencies to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations, and to strengthen inter-governmental cooperation in authenticating the identities of individuals seeking consular services abroad.”
The President also urged Nigerians living abroad to respect the immigration laws of their host countries, and to protect the integrity of the visas and permits issued to them.
Despite the new US stance, the Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to issuing five-year multiple-entry visas to American applicants.
Onanuga further addressed ongoing speculation about a visa freeze by the United Arab Emirates. “Regarding the new conditions for issuing UAE transit visas to Nigerian nationals, the federal government notes that it has not received any formal communication from the UAE authorities regarding a revised visa policy,” he said.