By Fatima Saka
Abuja — The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed deep concern over the recent decision by the United States Government to revise its visa reciprocity schedule for Nigerian citizens, significantly reducing the validity of certain non-immigrant visas to just three months with a single entry.
The affected categories include B1/B2 (business/tourist), F (student), and J (exchange visitor) visas, a move Nigeria describes as burdensome and misaligned with the principles of reciprocity and mutual respect that should guide relations between both nations.
In a statement issued Wednesday and signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria emphasized its disappointment over the development, citing its impact on a wide range of legitimate travelers — from students and professionals to families and individuals participating in cultural and educational exchanges.
“The Federal Government views this development with concern and keen interest, particularly given the longstanding cordial relations and strong people-to-people ties between our two countries,” the statement read.
Nigeria noted that while it respects the sovereign rights of countries to define their immigration policies, such changes must be equitable and grounded in mutual cooperation.
“The decision appears misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect that should guide bilateral engagements between friendly nations,” it added.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that diplomatic consultations are ongoing and urged the United States to reconsider the restriction in the spirit of partnership and shared global responsibilities.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the matter through dialogue and to ensuring that any future agreements reflect fairness and the longstanding values shared between both countries.
