The United States Mission in Nigeria has said the recent reduction in visa validity for most Nigerian nonimmigrant travellers is part of a global security and technical review, not a political decision.
Addressing widespread speculations, the mission explained in a statement on Facebook on Friday that the move is not linked to Nigeria’s affiliations with BRICS, its position on third-country deportees, or the introduction of e-visa policies.
The statement reads “the U.S. Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries.
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“This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.” This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.
Rather, the U.S. noted that the shortened validity period stems from an “ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.”
We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations,” the embassy wrote in a Friday post on X.
Nigeria had faulted the US action with officials suggesting different reasons but saying the US action was not justified.