Tuggar says 3-month US visa policy is retaliation for Nigeria’s refusal to do something impossible, considering its own social problems
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has explained that the new United States policy of restricting Nigerians to three-month visa validity was triggered by Nigeria’s refusal to accept 300 Venezuelan prisoners demanded by US President Donald Trump.
Tuggar made the clarification on Channels Television on Thursday, buttressed by a statement issued by Aso Rock which dismissed claims by the US that the visa decision was reciprocal against an earlier decision by Nigeria to impose a 90-day visa on American citizens.
“Immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a service-wide directive that Nigeria implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations,” said the statement, issued by Tinubu’s spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
“The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting U.S. citizens a five-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the U.S. has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.”
Tuggar disclosed on television that “The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons. It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners.”
He dismissed the excuse given by the US to impose a 90-day visa on Nigerians.
“We introduced an online electronic visa to save time instead of arriving before processing the visa. The online makes it easier. Our visa is not saying that every American is given only 90 days. We give more than three-year visa,” Tuggar insisted.
“It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept that.
“We have problems of our own, and we can’t accept Venezuela’s deportees for crying out loud. We already have 230 million people.
“These are some of the ongoing discussions, not just with Nigeria but with some other countries.
“We’re talking to the Americans and reminding them that we will also issue them the same way they issue five-year multiple-entry visas.
“What Nigeria has done that differs is simple. We used to have a visa at the point of entry that wasn’t running efficiently.
“We introduced online electronic visas that save time. With that, you don’t need to go through the challenge of time. On my laptop, I can apply for and get a Nigerian visa.
“First-time travellers, such as tourists, may find it easy, and they’ll want to come again.
“America is not correct to say their decision on the visa was based on reciprocity.
“Honestly, I don’t think Nigeria will be able to accept prisoners from Venezuela.
“And, I think it will be unfair to insist that Nigeria accept 300 deportees from Venezuela. This might just be the beginning.”
Back in the Villa, Onanuga stressed that Nigeria continues to grant five-year non-immigrant visas to Americans in line with existing bilateral agreements and the principle of reciprocity.
“Contrary to misinformation and fake news circulating online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never stopped issuing five-year multiple-entry visas for U.S. citizens,” he said.
“Immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a service-wide directive that Nigeria implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
“The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting U.S. citizens a five-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the U.S. has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.”
Onanuga explained that a 90-day single-entry visa applies only to the newly introduced electronic visa (e-Visa), which is different from the traditional visa categories and is designed to streamline entry for tourists and short-term business travellers who prefer not to undergo standard embassy application process.
“The e-visa replaces the now obsolete visa-on-arrival, which was inefficient and often abused for extortion.
“The e-visa is a fast, online process that does not require the applicant to visit the embassy. Applicants receive the e-visa within 48 hours of submitting their application.”
He said the e-visa initiative is part of Abuja’s broader strategy to promote investment, tourism, and the ease of doing business in Nigeria while aligning with global best practices.
Many countries around the world, he noted, have adopted similar digital visa systems.
Onanuga stressed that while Nigeria currently offers an e-visa option to US citizens, the same gesture has not been reciprocated by the US for Nigerians.
“In the spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, and partnership that have characterised the relationship between Nigeria and the United States over the decades, the Tinubu-led administration will continue to dialogue and engage with U.S. authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments.”
Like Nigeria, like Ghana
Washington has also restricted most non-immigrant visas issued to Ghanaians to a three-month validity period with a single-entry limit.
A circular from the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs sent to media outlets in Ghana said new rule affects business, tourism, and student visa categories, drastically shortening their validity and entry privileges.
Ghanaians applying for B-category visas, typically issued for business and tourism, will now receive visas valid for just three months and only usable for a single entry into the US.
Student visa holders, particularly those under the F1 category, are also subject to the restrictions.
However, diplomatic visa categories remain exempt.
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US embassy begins screening social media handles of Nigerian nonimmigrant visa applicants
