“It’s not about deportees or BRICS membership’: US clarifies visa validity reduction policy for Nigerians

The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that the recent decision to reduce visa validity for most Nigerian nonimmigrant applicants is not politically motivated and has no connection to Nigeria’s stance on deportees, affiliation with BRICS, or adoption of e-visa policies.

The U.S. Mission, in an official statement issued on Friday, emphasised that the change was not influenced by political alignments or recent policy shifts involving other nations, but is part of a broader, ongoing global review.

“The U.S. Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries. This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.

“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.

“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations,” the embassy statement reads.

The clarification comes amid widespread public debate and concern over the timing and motivation behind the shortened visa validity period.

The US Embassy on Tuesday announced that it had reduced visa validity for non-immigrant Nigerian applicants from five years to three months.

“Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period,” it said.

Those who already hold valid U.S. non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will not be affected, as their visas will retain their original status and validity.

Some observers had speculated that the decision was linked to Nigeria’s increasing diplomatic and economic ties with alternative blocs like BRICS or its recent immigration policy reforms.

However, the Presidency dismissed the claims that it has stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas to U.S. citizens, describing such reports as fake news and misinformation.

In a statement on Thursday signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency clarified that the administration never halted the long-standing visa arrangement with the US, which remains guided by existing bilateral agreements and the principle of reciprocity.

According to the statement, immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a directive that Nigeria must implement all its bilateral agreements with other nations and uphold reciprocity in diplomatic relations.

Also, there have been reports that Nigeria’s rejection of a U.S. request to take in asylum seekers is a key reason behind the recent visa restrictions slapped on the country by President Donald Trump’s administration.

This was revealed to TheCable by diplomatic sources who stated that Nigeria’s refusal to sign a controversial agreement to host asylum seekers from the United States played a major role in triggering the visa clampdown announced by the Trump administration.

It was learned that the US had been pressuring several countries, especially in Africa and Central America, to serve as temporary dumping grounds for migrants and asylum when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

Tuggar said Nigeria has enough challenges of its own and won’t be a dumping ground for Venezuelan prisoners deported from the US amid Trump’s crackdown on undocumented migrants.

He said, “The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in the BRICS meeting. You also have to bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons.

“It would be difficult for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own; we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria. We already have 230 million people.”

Instead, he said Nigeria is focused on negotiating economic partnerships with the U.S., particularly in areas of mutual interest.

“We’re looking to do deals with the US,” he said, highlighting Nigeria’s reserves of gas, critical minerals, and rare earths vital to American technology companies.