July 10, (THEWILL) — The Presidency has refuted reports that President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the issuance of 5-year multiple-entry Nigerian visas to United States citizens.
THEWILL reports that the United States, in its updated visa policy on Tuesday, said effective July 8, 2025, most non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerian citizens will be limited to single entry and valid for only three months. A statement by the U.S. Department of State said the decision is part of a global update affecting several countries and is aimed at aligning visa issuance with U.S. national security and immigration standards.
While reports said the US Visa Policy toward Nigeria was a retaliation against earlier decision by President Tinubu to suspend the issuance of 5-year multiple-entry Nigerian visas to United States citizens, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claim as false and misleading, reaffirming that Nigeria has not altered its visa policy towards American citizens.
“President Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas to US citizens. Nigeria continues to honour existing bilateral agreements and remains committed to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations”, he said.
Faulting reports attributing the United States government action to lack of reciprocity, he said, “The US government’s claim of reciprocity does not reflect the actual situation. Nigeria has continued to issue 5-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens.”
Onanuga recalled that shortly after assuming office, President Tinubu directed government agencies to implement all subsisting bilateral agreements with foreign nations, including the United States, and to ensure that foreign nationals are treated fairly in line with diplomatic protocols.
Onanuga explained that a new short-term visa category—known as the e-visa—was recently introduced by Nigeria to simplify the entry process for tourists and business travelers. The e-visa offers a 90-day single-entry validity and is processed entirely online within 48 hours, eliminating the need for applicants to visit the embassy. He emphasised that the e-visa is not a replacement for the standard 5-year visa and only applies to those seeking a quicker, short-term alternative. “It replaces the inefficient visa-on-arrival system, which was often exploited for extortion”, he said.
The e-visa policy, according to the Presidency, 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 statement further noted that while Nigeria has opened the e-visa platform to US citizens and several other nationalities, the United States has yet to reciprocate by offering similar ease of access to Nigerian travellers.
Despite the disparity, the Presidency assured that the Nigerian government remains committed to constructive dialogue with the United States to address any concerns and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
“In the spirit of partnership and mutual respect, President Tinubu’s administration will continue to engage with US authorities to ensure that visa policies reflect the long-standing friendship between both countries”, he said.
The statement read: “Contrary to misinformation and fake news circulating online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens, in accordance with the principle of subsisting bilateral agreements and reciprocity.
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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly stated the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the recent adjustment made by the United States’ non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
“The Ministry and other senior government officials will continue to engage with the United States to address the unfavourable restrictions in a just and fair manner that reflects the mutual respect and partnership that so exist between our two friendly nations.
“We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation.
“The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting US citizens a 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the US has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.
“The 90-day single-entry Visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-Visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait. The e-visa replaces the now obsolete Visa-on-arrival, which was inefficient and often used as a means of extortion. The e-visa is a fast, online process that does not require the applicant to go to the embassy. Applicants receive the e-Visa within 48 hours of submitting their application.
“The e-visa policy aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to boost investment, trade, and tourism in the country, as well as promote the ease of doing business for non-nationals. Moreover, e-visas are a widely adopted global policy in dozens of countries.
“Although Nigeria has an e-visa policy for citizens of the US and several other countries, the US has not reciprocated this gesture 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 US authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments.”
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