- Retired Envoys: Without Ambassadors, Nothing ‘ll change
By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has promised to address recent visa policy changes by the United States and the United Arab Emirates through diplomatic channels
This is as the government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties with both nations.
Meanwhile, some retired Career Ambassadors had in the past urged the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take steps to name and deploy Ambassadors to man Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad to avoid unpleasant situations where many hitherto friendly countries will initiate diplomatic moves aimed at downgrading Nigeria ” as Nigeria has downgraded representation in their countries.”
Ambassador Usman Sarki, Ambassador/former Deputy permanent representative of the Nigeria to the United Nations, who spoke on Channels on the matter in the past had urged the federal government to correct the anomaly posed by the non-appointment of substantive heads of diplomatic missions.
Similarly, Fred Eno, a retired senior Adviser at the UN in New York had also weighed in on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government pledged to address visa regulations affecting Nigerian travelers.
Recall that the US Department of State had announced recently that, effective July 8, 2025, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will be limited to single-entry with a three-month validity period.
This marks a significant departure from previous policies, prompting Nigeria to engage US authorities to clarify the reasons behind the change and seek a reconsideration.
Reacting in a statement, from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Nigerian government said the US has formally communicated its reasons for the policy shift, which include concerns over visa overstay and compliance with immigration regulations.
Onanuga also said Tinubu has directed federal agencies to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations, particularly in strengthening identity verification and inter-governmental cooperation to address US concerns.
The statement reads in part: “The United States Government has officially communicated that its decision was based on two principal factors: the current rate of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals and the need for reliable access to their records.
“It further explained that the visa policy adjustment is part of its global visa reciprocity process which is routinely reviewed and subject to change, including the number of permitted entries and validity durations.
“The President calls on all Nigerians to respect the immigration regulations of their host countries and to uphold the integrity of the permits and privileges granted to them under the laws of those jurisdictions,” Onanuga said.
Regarding new visa requirements for UAE transit visas, Onanuga said no formal notice had been received from the Emirati government.
“The Federal Government notes that it has not received any formal communication from the UAE authorities regarding a revised visa policy.
“However, it is observed that visa issuance is currently progressing in a gradual and orderly manner.
“Any genuine concerns raised are being addressed through the appropriate channels in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration,” Onanuga added.
