From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to all Nigerian Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations following recent changes to visa issuance policies by the United States affecting Nigerian nationals.
In a Statehouse press statement issued today, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with the United States and the United Arab Emirates, while addressing the challenges posed by the visa policy adjustments.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the “United States Government has officially communicated that its decision was based on two principal factors: the current rate of visa overstays by Nigerian nationals and the need for reliable access to their records.”
It further noted that the policy change “is part of its global visa reciprocity process, which is routinely reviewed and subject to change, including the number of permitted entries and validity durations.”
In direct response, the President “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.” The statement underscored the President’s appeal, saying,
“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.”
On the situation with the United Arab Emirates, the government stated it “has not received any formal communication from the UAE authorities regarding a revised visa policy.” However, visa issuance “is currently progressing in a gradual and orderly manner,” the statement said. President Tinubu “appreciates the continued cooperation of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, which has remained constructive and engaged with Nigerian authorities. Any genuine concerns raised are being addressed through the appropriate channels, in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration.”
Reassuring Nigerians abroad, the President “assures 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.”
He also “reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening Nigeria’s valued bilateral relations with the Governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates.”
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