US Limits Temporary Visas for Nigerians
The US embassy in Abuja has announced that temporary visas for Nigerian citizens traveling to the United States will now be restricted to a duration of three months. This decision is part of a broader trend of travel bans and restrictions implemented by Washington, many of which impact African nations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the embassy indicated, “Effective immediately, the majority of non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas granted to Nigerian citizens will be single-entry visas valid for three months.” This action is part of “updates to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy, affecting several countries, including Nigeria.”
Previously, Nigerians could apply for visas with varying lengths based on the purpose of their visit to the US. Last month, President Donald Trump enacted travel bans on nationals from twelve countries, predominantly in Africa, citing concerns over national security and insufficient vetting processes.
As a result of this order, citizens from seven African nations—Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan—are prohibited from entering the United States. In response, Chad promptly halted the issuance of visas for US citizens.
So far, there has been no official response from Abuja regarding the latest visa restrictions. However, Nigeria’s foreign minister previously cautioned that travel bans and tariffs could obstruct potential trade agreements with West Africa, especially in sectors such as rare earth minerals and energy.
