Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, to discuss recent changes in visa procedures for Nigerian citizens.
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The meeting, which took place in Abuja, was also attended by Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, the discussions focused on the newly introduced US visa regulations for Nigerians, including the reduction in visa validity periods and the shift to single-entry for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic categories.
Tunji-Ojo described the engagement as “constructive,” adding that the US ambassador provided “valuable insights into the revised protocol and its alignment with established practices to uphold the integrity of the visa process.”
He also revealed that Ambassador Mills expressed support for Nigeria’s newly introduced e-visa policy, calling it a positive step toward streamlining and improving the visa application process for foreign travelers into Nigeria.
Key outcomes of the meeting include a commitment by both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation on visa policy enforcement, information sharing, and responsible travel practices. Tunji-Ojo noted that the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the US Mission in Nigeria would deepen collaboration in areas such as:
Issuance of secure travel documents: Ensuring all travel documents are issued with verified traveler identities.
Visa overstay management: Implementing stricter measures to curb overstays by Nigerian citizens holding US visas.
Security information sharing: Exchanging relevant criminal and security-related data to enhance public safety in both nations.
He reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to transparency, global best practices, and the protection of Nigeria’s international image.
The meeting follows Tuesday’s announcement by the US Embassy in Nigeria regarding a major policy shift that now limits most non immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerians to single entry and a three month validity. The new rules mark a departure from previous arrangements, where Nigerian applicants could obtain multi-entry visas with longer validity, often extending to two years or more.
Visa policies between nations often reflect reciprocity agreements, with each country aligning its terms based on how its citizens are treated abroad. In contrast, US citizens can obtain Nigerian visas with validity periods ranging from three months to five years, although their maximum stay per visit is typically limited to 90 days.
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