- Retired Envoys Flay Non-appointment of Ambassadors
By Nwosa Hamilton
The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged the United States to reconsider its recent imposition of stringent visa restrictions on Nigerians, effective July 8, 2025.
This comes after the US slashed visa validity limit for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerian citizens to three months with single-entry access.
The U.S. Government had announced that its decision is rooted in its visa reciprocity policy.
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.
However, reacting to the US latest visa policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, voiced deep concern, asserting that the US visa restrictions place an undue burden on Nigerian travelers, including students, business professionals, and tourists.
Ebienfa also asserted that the policy seems “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect.”
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to the recent decision by the United States Government to revise its visa reciprocity schedule for Nigerian citizens, limiting the validity of non-immigrant visas, including B1/B2, F, and J categories, to three months with single entry.
“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 decision appears misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect that should guide bilateral engagements between friendly nations.”
According to the statement, the policy change would have a broad impact on Nigerians, affecting students seeking education in the U.S, professionals involved in legitimate business, and families visiting loved ones.
The government emphasised that the restriction could hamper cultural and educational exchanges that have long been a foundation of US-Nigeria relations.
“While acknowledging the sovereign right of every country to determine its immigration policies, Nigeria respectfully urges the United States to reconsider this decision in the spirit of partnership, cooperation, and shared global responsibilities.
“Diplomatic engagements are ongoing, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains committed to pursuing a resolution that reflects fairness and upholds the values of mutual interest,” Ebienfa noted.
The New Diplomat also reports that following the disclosure on Wednesday, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, led an FG delegation to a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap.
It was gathered that during the meeting, the Nigerian delegation discussed with the U.S. delegation over a possible resolution of the diplomatic issues.
Tunji-Ojo also confirmed this in a statement posted on his official X account.
He stated: “I held a constructive meeting with the US Ambassador Richard M. Mills Jr. today (Wednesday), to discuss the recently introduced visa procedures for Nigerian nationals.
“The discussions centred on visa reciprocity, with Ambassador Mills Jr. providing valuable insights into the revised protocol and its alignment with established practices to uphold the integrity of the visa process.
“The Ambassador described the new e-visa policy of the Nigeria Immigration Service as an innovation intended to streamline and enhance the application process for foreign travellers into the country.
“The Ministry of Interior, the Nigerian Immigration Service, and the US Mission in Nigeria agreed to strengthen collaboration, emphasizing adherence to visa regulations and promoting responsible travel practices among Nigerian citizens.
“Our government, under the leadership of President @officialABAT Tinubu (GCFR), will continue to ensure strict compliance across the board in key areas, including: 1. Secure travel documents: Ensuring the issuance of secure travel documents with verified traveller identities. 2. Visa overstay management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travelers on US visas. 3. Information sharing: Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety.”
