The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to introduce reciprocal visa measures requiring American citizens applying for Nigerian visas to disclose their social media details, mirroring a recent policy by the United States.
The move follows the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s update that all Nigerian visa applicants must now list social media usernames and handles they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.
According to the U.S. government, failure to provide this information could result in visa denial and long-term ineligibility for future applications.
In its statement, the U.S. Mission said:
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years.
Omitting this information could lead to visa denial and possible ineligibility for future visas.”
Applicants are also required to certify that the information submitted is true and accurate before final submission.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the government was fully aware of the new U.S. directive.
He stressed that Nigeria will apply the principle of reciprocity, which governs international visa relations.
“Anything related to visas is reciprocal. What you mandate our nationals to do, we will also require from your citizens applying for Nigerian visas.
If the U.S. insists on social media disclosures, Nigeria will enforce the same requirement,” Ebienfa said.
He added that an inter-agency committee involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) will be convened to design a coordinated national response to the U.S. directive.
The U.S. first introduced the idea of social media screening for visa applicants in 2019 as part of its enhanced vetting process aimed at improving national security.
Social media accounts are seen as a window into applicants’ backgrounds, opinions, and affiliations.
Critics, however, argue that the measure infringes on privacy rights and could discourage freedom of expression online.
Civil society groups have also raised concerns that such disclosures may expose applicants to bias based on their political views, religious expressions, or cultural practices.
If implemented, U.S. citizens seeking Nigerian visas will be required to:
Submit a list of all social media handles used in the last five years.
Certify that all information provided is accurate.
Risk denial of entry if found withholding or misrepresenting details.
This measure, according to analysts, could impact business travelers, expatriates, researchers, and tourists who regularly visit Nigeria.
Immigration experts say the policy may slow down visa processing and complicate applications on both sides.
According to Lagos-based immigration consultant, Chuka Okoro, “Reciprocity is a standard principle in diplomacy. However, both countries must balance national security with the need to encourage trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. If poorly implemented, this could deter legitimate travelers.”
Similarly, human rights advocates are urging the Nigerian government to ensure the new policy is implemented transparently and does not result in unnecessary surveillance of applicants.
The move comes at a time when Nigeria and the U.S. are deepening collaborations in security, counter-terrorism, and trade.
Some experts view the policy as symbolic, underscoring Nigeria’s insistence on equal treatment of its citizens abroad.
However, others caution that visa reciprocity disputes, if not carefully managed, could strain diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
For now, Nigerians applying for U.S. visas are advised to be transparent in their disclosures to avoid visa denials.
Likewise, American citizens intending to travel to Nigeria should prepare for possible additional documentation requirements once the reciprocal policy is fully rolled out.
With both countries citing security as the main driver, the visa screening process is set to become more rigorous.
Analysts say travelers should expect more scrutiny not only on financial and travel history but also on their digital footprints.