President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied reports claiming that Nigeria has stopped issuing five-year visas to American citizens. He said the news being shared on social media is false and misleading.
This came after the United States made a new change to its visa rules for Nigerian visitors. Some people online claimed that Nigeria had reacted by banning US citizens from getting long-term visas.
To clear things up, Tinubu’s media adviser, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement on Thursday. He said that the President never banned or changed the rule about giving five-year multiple-entry visas to Americans.
The statement explained that Nigeria is still honoring its visa agreements with the United States. Tinubu even gave a directive when he became president for all Nigerian agencies to follow international agreements and treat other countries fairly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also shared its view on the recent US visa policy changes. According to the ministry, the government is talking to US officials to make sure Nigerians are treated fairly.
While the US claims their new visa rules are based on “reciprocity,” Nigeria disagrees. Officials say that Nigeria has not stopped giving five-year visas to US citizens, so the US policy does not reflect the actual relationship.
Only one type of visa—the new e-visa—comes with a shorter validity of 90 days. This type of visa is made for tourists and business travelers who want a quick and easy process. It replaces the old visa-on-arrival method, which often caused delays and was misused by some officials.
The e-visa system allows people to apply online and get their visa within 48 hours without visiting an embassy. It is part of Tinubu’s plan to make Nigeria more welcoming to tourists, investors, and businesspeople.
Nigeria now gives e-visas to citizens from the US and other countries, but the US has not returned the favor by offering something similar to Nigerians.
Despite this, Tinubu’s government says it will continue working with the US in a friendly way. They are committed to keeping the long-standing good relationship between both countries and finding solutions through dialogue.
