Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday, July 9, held a meeting in Abuja with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, to address the recent changes introduced by the US government to its visa policy for Nigerian nationals.

 

 

The meeting was also attended by Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.

 

In a statement issued after the meeting, Tunji-Ojo described the discussions as constructive, noting that the US envoy provided detailed explanations about the new visa procedures and their alignment with international standards to preserve the integrity of the immigration process.

 

 

 

Interior minister Tunji-Ojo meets US envoy over new visa policy for Nigerians

 

 

The minister noted that the revised protocol includes the US’s endorsement of Nigeria’s e-visa system, which he said aims to enhance and simplify the visa application experience for foreign travellers to Nigeria.

According to the statement, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation, particularly in the areas of visa regulation enforcement and promoting responsible travel practices. The Nigerian government also committed to implementing measures in key areas, including the issuance of secure travel documents with verified identities, improved visa overstay management, and the exchange of relevant security and criminal record information to support public safety.

 

On Tuesday, July 8, the US Embassy in Nigeria announced a significant change to its visa policy for Nigerian citizens. Under the new directive, the validity period for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas will be reduced to three months, and visa holders will be limited to a single entry. The policy change is expected to affect a wide category of Nigerian applicants seeking to travel to the United States.