Nigeria Denies Reports of Visa Suspension for US Citizens

Strategic Insights -

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the issuance of 5-year multiple-entry Nigerian visas to United States citizens. According to Onanuga, Nigeria has not altered its visa policy towards American citizens, and the country continues to honour existing bilateral agreements and remains committed to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas to US citizens, with Nigeria continuing to honour existing bilateral agreements and adhere to the principle of reciprocity.
  • The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting US citizens a 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, with the US continuing to grant the same to Nigerians.
  • A new short-term visa category, known as the e-visa, has been introduced by Nigeria to simplify the entry process for tourists and business travelers, offering a 90-day single-entry validity and processed entirely online within 48 hours.
  • The e-visa policy aligns with President Tinubu's broader agenda to boost investment, trade, and tourism by making it easier for non-nationals to do business in Nigeria.
  • The Nigerian government has opened the e-visa platform to US citizens and several other nationalities, but the US has yet to reciprocate by offering similar ease of access to Nigerian travellers.

Statistics:

  • 5 years: the validity period of multiple-entry Nigerian visas issued to US citizens.
  • 90 days: the single-entry validity period of the newly introduced e-visa.
  • 48 hours: the processing time for e-visa applications.
  • Dozens: the number of countries that have adopted the e-visa policy globally.
  • 2025, July 8: the date by which most non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerian citizens by the US will be limited to single entry and valid for only three months.

Sources:

  • THEWILL
  • U.S. Department of State
  • Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy