Nigeria, US Hold High-Level Talks to De-escalate Visa Tensions After New Restrictions

In a diplomatic move aimed at easing recent visa tensions, Nigeria and the United States held a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to discuss the new visa restrictions imposed on Nigerian citizens by the US. The dialogue underscores efforts by both nations to strengthen bilateral ties amidst concerns over tightened travel policies.

The Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap. They met with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., to address the revised visa reciprocity schedule announced by the US Department of State on July 8, 2025.

The new US policy limits the validity of most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerians, including business, student, and exchange visitor categories, to just three months with a single entry. This decision, which the US attributed to ensuring the integrity of its immigration systems and meeting security benchmarks, had earlier drawn expressions of “concern and keen interest” from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the constructive meeting, Ambassador Mills provided clarifications on the revised protocol, emphasizing that the changes align with international standards and are part of a continuous process of visa reciprocity. He also commended Nigeria’s recently introduced e-visa policy, describing it as a “forward-looking innovation” designed to streamline the application process for foreign travelers.

Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation in several critical areas of travel administration. These include enhancing the issuance of secure travel documents with verified traveler identities, improving visa overstay management to curb unauthorized stays by Nigerian nationals in the United States, and strengthening information sharing related to security and criminal records to bolster public safety.

Minister Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, to uphold international travel standards and ensure compliance with all bilateral agreements. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge from both the Nigeria Immigration Service and the US Mission in Nigeria to work collaboratively towards promoting a fair, secure, and transparent visa regime that benefits citizens of both nations.

The dialogue offers a glimmer of hope for Nigerians affected by the new restrictions, signaling that diplomatic channels remain open for resolving issues impacting the long-standing people-to-people ties between the two countries.