VISA TRAP: A SILENT POLICY SHIFT HURTING NIGERIANS AND FUELING A DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT
The Federal Government of Nigeria quietly cut US visa validity, prompting the U.S. to respond. Now, Nigerians face 3-month visas, higher costs, and less access.
By Folaranmi Ajayi
Folaranmi Ajayi is a Nigerian investigative journalist and storyteller passionate about uncoverin...
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Nigerians on X are leading the discussion on how the shift in the visa policy will affect many Nigerians planning to Japa to the United States. The implications are that ordinary Nigerians, especially those without diplomatic or second passports, are the ones paying the price. Businesspeople, students, tourists, and families are now trapped in a cycle of short visas, higher costs, and more uncertainty, all because of a policy shift.
According to data, over 200,000 Nigerians applied for U.S. visas in 2024. Now, each of them must deal with a new reality visa valid for just three months, instead of the usual two to five years. This is not because of a new U.S. immigration law. It’s a direct retaliation to a quiet move by Nigeria’s government, which, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, slashed the duration of visas for American citizens from five years to just three months. No consultation. No announcement. Just an abrupt change in policy that has now triggered a diplomatic rebuke, and ordinary Nigerians are the ones paying for it.
Back in February 2023, under the former President Buhari, Nigeria made a significant move by granting U.S. citizens five-year visas. It was considered a step toward easing travel, promoting trade, and encouraging tourism. But mid-2024 saw that policy reversed silently and without public explanation.
Now, on July 8, 2025, the U.S. has responded in kind. And for thousands of Nigerian students, professionals, and families, that has become a major setback. Sources within immigration say the Tinubu-led administration reduced U.S. visa validity from five years to three months as a revenue-generating tactic. With each U.S. applicant paying $160 for a visa, a shorter duration means more frequent applications and more income for the government of the day.
“This government governs like a tax collector, not a president,” said Dennis Owodiong, a political analyst. “From fuel hikes to multiple taxes to now visa shrinkage, everything is monetised. No strategic diplomacy, just tax, levy, and exploit.”Owodiong described the visa downgrade as a small-minded decision made from a place of desperation rather than foresight.
Another observer, Gideon Alex, saw it differently: “This wasn’t about money alone. This was about Japa control. The government knows many young Nigerians are looking for a way out. This was their way of slowing the migration wave.” A user named Oserume pushed back against viral outrage, claiming: “The policy change only applies to visas on arrival. The five-year visa is still available to U.S. citizens applying through embassies.” However, neither the Ministry of Interior nor the Nigerian Immigration Service offered that clarification at the time of the U.S. Embassy’s policy change, and the lack of transparency fuelled public confusion.
Eventually, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, issued a statement following a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr. He explained that the discussion focused on visa reciprocity and that the new e-visa policy aims to streamline applications. According to him, the talks emphasised secure travel documents, visa overstay controls, and information sharing for safety.“The government under President Tinubu,” he said, “is committed to maintaining visa integrity and compliance across board.” But while diplomatic language was exchanged and handshakes were had, the practical impact on Nigerian travelers remains real and immediate. The tragedy in all this is not just the diplomatic tension. It’s the quiet way in which decisions are made, affecting millions, without public input or media interrogation.
Certain questions raise their heads given the situation. Where were the press briefings? Where were the explanatory memos? How can a visa policy change that influences global mobility and national reputation be implemented without prior notice? Meanwhile, families who saved for months to attend graduations, training programmes, or business expos must now reapply within 90 days, spending more, waiting longer, and facing more scrutiny.
This is a story about governance by stealth. About a pattern of leadership that likely values short-term revenue over long-term diplomatic relationships and citizen welfare. Whether it’s fuel price hikes, tax explosions, or now, visa restrictions, the current administration appears more interested in squeezing than serving. And while the Ministry of Interior continues with its public relations spin, Nigerians deserve to know the truth. The country's passport is losing power, not because of foreign hostility but probable domestic carelessness. If democracy is truly about representation, then Nigerians deserve to be told when their mobility, identity, and dignity are being negotiated behind closed doors.
The Nigerian government owes the people transparency. The Minister of Interior owes citizens an honest explanation. Until then, the real visa ban is not from the U.S. It’s the one Nigeria places on its people, through silence, shortsightedness, and systemic sabotage. "For those who want to go to the USA. Those of us who don't want to go will gladly stay in Nigeria and enjoy our stay here. Nigerians waste so much time and money trying to go to the USA. They are telling us to develop our country and stop wasting our money trying to go abroad. This is good for us in the long run," an elder stateman added.
