The Presidency on Thursday faulted the United States government over its claim that Nigeria failed to reciprocate its five-year, multiple-entry visa policy.
It also dismissed reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu cancelled the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas for United States citizens, describing such claims as “misinformation and fake news.”
“We want to reiterate that the U.S. government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation,” it said in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu Never Stopped The 5-year Non-immigrant Visa for U.S. Citizens.’
The Presidency clarified that Nigeria continues to grant five-year non-immigrant visas to U.S. citizens under existing bilateral agreements and reciprocal arrangements.
It also accused online sources of misrepresenting the current visa regime.
“Contrary to misinformation and fake news circulating online, President Bola Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for U.S. citizens, in accordance with the principle of subsisting bilateral agreements and reciprocity,” the statement read.
This follows recent adjustments by the United States to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
In early July 2025, the U.S. government revised its visa policy for Nigerian citizens, reducing most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visa categories—such as B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F (student), and J (exchange)—to single-entry, three-month validity.
This marked a sharp departure from the previous two- to five-year multiple-entry visas that Nigerians were eligible to receive.
The changes took immediate effect, although existing visas issued before July 8 remain valid until their original expiration.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja explained the decision as part of its global visa reciprocity policy, which aims to ensure that visa treatment of U.S. citizens is mirrored by the host countries.
According to the embassy, Nigeria does not currently offer U.S. citizens visa terms equal to those previously granted to Nigerians, prompting the adjustment.
The U.S. stressed that reciprocity, not retaliation, was the basis for the change.
Punch/ Jacob Folarin
