By Seun Ibiyemi
The Presidency has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigeria has suspended the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas to United States citizens, reaffirming its adherence to existing bilateral agreements and the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, Presidential Spokesperson Mr Bayo Onanuga described the reports as “false and misleading,” maintaining that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to all subsisting international arrangements.
He explained that shortly after assuming office, President Tinubu instructed that Nigeria implement all bilateral commitments and respect reciprocity in its foreign relations.
Onanuga’s comments follow recent changes by the U.S. government to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerian nationals. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since clarified Nigeria’s position, adding that high-level engagement with the U.S. is ongoing to resolve any concerns based on mutual respect and shared interests.
“We want to reiterate that the U.S. government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy toward Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation,” Onanuga said.
“The Nigerian government has not stopped granting five-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visas to U.S. citizens, just as the U.S. has continued to do the same for Nigerians.”
He clarified that the recently introduced 90-day single-entry visas apply only to the new e-visa category, aimed at tourists and business travellers seeking faster and more convenient processing.
“This digital visa option replaced the inefficient visa-on-arrival scheme, which was open to abuse,” Onanuga explained. “The e-visa is entirely online and enables applicants to receive their visa within 48 hours without visiting the embassy.”
He said the policy was in line with President Tinubu’s broader efforts to boost trade, attract tourism, and improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria. He also noted that many countries have adopted similar electronic visa systems.
Despite Nigeria’s rollout of e-visas for American citizens, Onanuga pointed out that the U.S. has yet to extend the same arrangement to Nigerians.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to engage diplomatically with U.S. authorities to resolve any issues contributing to the recent changes.
“The Tinubu administration remains committed to constructive dialogue and is focused on building a mutually beneficial partnership between Nigeria and the United States,” he said.