Nigerian diplomatic missions across the United States have affirmed their continued issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens, contradicting recent claims that Nigeria had reversed its visa reciprocity policy.
Findings by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the consulates in New York and Atlanta, revealed that Nigerian missions have not stopped issuing long-term multiple-entry visas to Americans. Contrary to speculation, three-month single-entry visas are only offered under Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival programme for urgent travel, not as a replacement for longer-term visas.
Acting Ambassador to the U.S., Amb. Samson Itegboje, dismissed reports of a policy change as “completely false,” noting that as of July 11, the missions were still issuing two-, three-, and five-year visas. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the 2023 Bilateral Consular Policy Agreement with the United States, which includes a five-year tourist visa for U.S. citizens and three-year visas for American diplomats and officials.
“There is nothing farther from the truth than the claim that we now issue only three-month single-entry visas to Americans,” Itegboje stated. “The Embassy is fully aligned with the reciprocal terms agreed with the U.S.”
His comments were echoed by Amb. Abubakar Jidda, Consul-General in New York, who confirmed that multiple-entry visas remain in full effect. “There is no directive from Abuja to reverse the agreement. We are still issuing five-year multiple-entry visas as part of Nigeria’s open, investor-friendly policy,” Jidda said.
He dismissed the U.S. government’s recent remarks on reciprocity as unclear and misleading, noting that Nigeria has upheld its end of the agreement without deviation. “This administration remains committed to projecting Nigeria as a prime destination for trade, investment, and cultural exchange,” he said.
At the Atlanta Consulate, Amb. Auwalu Namadina also affirmed the federal government’s position, describing reports of a reversal as “misinformation and fake news.” He said consular officers across all three missions had received no directive to halt five-year visas, emphasizing, “The Presidency has spoken. The Foreign Minister has spoken. There is no change.”
Consular officers further noted that the minimum visa issued to Americans is typically a two-year multiple-entry visa, with higher frequencies granted to regular business travellers and tourists. They described the visa-on-arrival option as a complementary measure for urgent, short-notice travel, rather than a substitute.
The Nigerian government, they said, continues to maintain a high visa approval rate for American applicants, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at promoting global mobility, investor confidence, and stronger diplomatic ties.
Officials urged the public to disregard unfounded reports and remain confident in Nigeria’s commitment to fair and reciprocal visa practices.
