The Presidency has pushed back against the United States’ revised visa policy for Nigerians, maintaining that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has upheld all bilateral agreements, including the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed reports suggesting Nigeria had altered its visa policy for U.S. nationals as “false and misleading.” He emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to diplomatic reciprocity, with Tinubu directing strict adherence to bilateral agreements since taking office.
“We want to reiterate that the U.S. government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy toward Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation,” Onanuga stated.
“The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting U.S. citizens a five-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the U.S. has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.”
The clarification comes after the U.S. reduced visa validity for Nigerian applicants in categories including tourist/business (B-1/B-2), student (F), and exchange (J) visas from multi-year to single-entry with three-month validity. Existing visas issued before July 8 remain unaffected.
Onanuga explained that Nigeria’s 90-day single-entry e-visa—introduced to replace the “inefficient and prone to abuse” visa-on-arrival system—applies only to a new digital category for tourists and business visitors.
“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,” he said, noting the policy aligns with Tinubu’s push for streamlined business and tourism processes.
Despite Nigeria’s adoption of this digital system for U.S. citizens, American authorities have not reciprocated with similar provisions. Onanuga assured that senior officials would continue bilateral engagements to address the restrictions “in a just and fair manner that reflects the mutual respect and partnership” between both nations.
The U.S. maintains that visa reciprocity is subject to periodic review, with adjustments possible based on evolving bilateral conditions.
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