The United States Embassy in Nigeria has clarified that its recent reduction of visa validity periods for Nigerian applicants forms part of a global security review, dismissing speculation about political retaliation.
Effective this week, most Nigerian applicants now receive single-entry visas valid for just three months, down from previous multi-year options.
In a statement released Friday, the US Mission denied links between the policy change and Nigeria’s immigration reforms, President Bola Tinubu’s BRICS engagement, or Abuja’s refusal to accept Venezuelan deportees.
“This reduction stems from technical assessments of visa usage patterns worldwide, not bilateral disputes,” the Embassy stated via its official X account.
The clarification follows days of public concern after President Donald Trump simultaneously imposed 10% tariffs on Nigerian exports – a move analysts connected to Tinubu’s recent BRICS summit attendance.
Nigeria’s Interior Ministry had recently modernized visa processes with e-gates and digital applications, reforms the US says didn’t trigger its decision.
Immigration experts note the policy aligns with Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has seen 17 countries face similar restrictions since 2024.
With over 45,000 Nigerian visa applicants monthly, the change will significantly increase travel costs for frequent visitors to America. The Nigerian government continues issuing five-year visas to US citizens, maintaining reciprocity hasn’t influenced current tensions.
The US Embassy emphasized ongoing cooperation with Nigerian authorities to “ensure safe, lawful travel,” though declined to specify which “security benchmarks” prompted the restrictions.
Stakeholders await potential responses from Abuja as both nations navigate strained diplomatic waters.
