Nigeria Dismisses Claims of Halting 5-Year Visas for US Citizens
The Nigerian government has strongly refuted “misinformation and fake news” circulating online that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visas for US citizens.
In a statement released on Thursday, the presidency clarified that Nigeria continues to grant these visas to US citizens, adhering to existing bilateral agreements and the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
The clarification comes amidst a recent adjustment by the United States to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians, which the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively engaging with US officials to address.
“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 statement read. It reiterated that Nigeria has not deviated from granting US citizens 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visas, just as the US has continued to offer the same to Nigerians.
The presidency explained that the 90-day single-entry visa validity period applies only to the newly introduced e-Visas. This short-term visa category is designed for tourists and business travellers who prefer a faster, online application process, bypassing the standard embassy procedures. The e-visa, which replaces the “inefficient and often used as a means of extortion” Visa-on-Arrival, promises approval within 48 hours.
This e-visa policy, according to the government, aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to boost investment, trade, and tourism, and promote ease of doing business in Nigeria. It was also highlighted that e-visas are a widely adopted global policy.
However, the Nigerian government noted that despite its e-visa policy for citizens of the US and several other countries, the United States has not reciprocated this gesture for Nigerians.
The Tinubu administration affirmed its commitment to continued dialogue and engagement with US authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments, emphasizing the long-standing spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.
