President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all federal agencies to strictly adhere to Nigeria’s international obligations following the recent adjustment of U.S. visa policies affecting Nigerian citizens. The directive comes after the United States Department of State announced new visa rules reducing the validity period and entry allowances for most Nigerian non-immigrant visa holders.
Under the new U.S. policy, which took effect immediately on July 8, 2025, Nigerian citizens applying for non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas will only be granted single-entry visas valid for three months. However, previously issued visas remain valid until their expiration.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria explained that the changes are part of a global visa reciprocity review, which assesses visa issuance based on bilateral relationships and compliance levels. The Embassy noted, “Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and subject to change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.”
According to a statement released by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the U.S. government communicated that the policy change was influenced by two major factors:
High rates of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals, which continue to strain U.S. immigration enforcement efforts.
The need for reliable access to verifiable records, as part of global security and immigration tracking standards.
The U.S. government assured that the decision was not targeted at Nigeria alone but was part of a wider review involving multiple countries.
In reaction, President Tinubu has ordered all relevant Nigerian agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and ensure proper verification of Nigerians seeking consular services abroad.
“President Tinubu 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 statement said.
The President also urged Nigerians living abroad to respect the immigration laws of their host countries, stressing that overstaying visas or violating immigration policies tarnishes Nigeria’s image globally.
“Nigerians overseas must uphold the integrity of the permits and privileges granted to them under the laws of those jurisdictions,” Tinubu emphasized.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s administration addressed growing concerns over alleged new visa restrictions by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Nigerian government stated that there has been no official communication from Emirati authorities on any new policy. However, visa issuance for Nigerians in the UAE is “progressing gradually and in an orderly manner,” dispelling rumours of a blanket visa ban.
The new U.S. visa rules are expected to affect thousands of Nigerians, especially students, business travellers, and frequent visitors. Immigration experts say the shorter visa validity period may increase travel costs and application frequency for Nigerians.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had earlier revealed that Nigerian nationals are among African citizens with a high incidence of visa overstays, prompting stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
As the U.S. tightens its visa issuance policies, Nigerian authorities are expected to adopt stricter verification processes to rebuild confidence in the integrity of Nigerian travellers.