President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed relevant federal agencies to address recent visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians by the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). His directive focuses on enhancing intergovernmental cooperation and improving systems that verify the identities of Nigerians seeking consular services abroad. These actions follow policy shifts by both countries. Last week, the U.S. reduced most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians from multi-entry, multi-year visas to single-entry, three-month permits. According to U.S. officials, the changes stem from "the current rate of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals" and the need for "better access to applicant record."
The U.S. embassy noted that its visa reciprocity schedule is “continuously reviewed and subject to change.” The Presidency acknowledged this, explaining that the decision is part of a global visa reciprocity process regularly reviewed to adjust validity durations and permitted entries.
Shortly after the U.S. announcement, the UAE halted all transit visas for Nigerians and restricted tourist visas for solo travelers aged 18–45. Those aged 45 and above are now required to provide six-month personal bank statements showing a minimum monthly balance of $10,000. Although no formal notice was issued to Nigeria, travel agents reported that visa processing continues “gradually and in an orderly manner” under the stricter guidelines.
In response, a statement issued Tuesday by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga and titled ‘On Recent Developments In Visa Issuance Policies By The United States And The United Arab Emirates’ quoted the Presidency as saying:
“In response, President Bola Tinubu has directed all federal agencies to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations and to strengthen inter-governmental cooperation in authenticating the identities of individuals seeking consular services abroad.”
It added, “The President calls on all Nigerians to respect the immigration regulations of their host countries and to uphold the integrity of the permits and privileges granted to them under the laws of those jurisdictions.”
President Tinubu also reassured citizens abroad of the government's commitment to their welfare, stating:
“The President assured all Nigerians that his administration will continue to pursue the best possible outcomes for citizens abroad, ensuring that Nigerians can travel, work, and live with dignity and respect in any part of the world, in line with the Tinubu administration’s 4-D Foreign Policy agenda and its Diaspora plank.”
To that end, the Presidency disclosed that relevant MDAs, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Communications, have been instructed to develop a unified verification portal. This system would allow foreign embassies to conduct real-time checks on passports, biometrics, and criminal records.
Finally, the Nigerian government emphasized its readiness to resolve these matters diplomatically. It reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to “mutual respect and collaboration” with the U.S. and UAE, affirming that “any genuine concerns will be resolved through diplomatic channels rather than reciprocal sanctions.”