Nigeria threatens to respond in kind as U.S. cancels valid visas

Nigeria has warned of reciprocal action against the United States following reports of sudden visa cancellations that have disrupted the plans of several Nigerian citizens.

Over the past weeks, affected Nigerians have raised concerns after the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate in Lagos revoked visas without explanation, leaving professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and students stranded.

The move has sparked outrage and raised fears of a quiet shift in American visa policy towards Nigerians.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, confirmed to Daily Times in an exclusive interview that the government is aware of the development although no formal complaint has been lodged with the ministry,

According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to invoke measures to protect the country’s national interest.

“Issuance of visa at the embassy is not a finality or a guarantee that you will be granted access on arrival in the country you are travelling to.

“The period between when you are issued a visa and when you present yourself at the entry point of the country, anything can happen.

“So, if they discover that there is one or two issues about your submission that they are not comfortable with, they can easily deny you access,” Ebienfa said.

Speaking further, Ebienfa insisted the ministry has not received any direct petitions from affected Nigerians despite growing reports of failed applications with zero refund policy.

He, however, acknowledged online accounts of Nigerians facing difficulties with U.S. visas.

“But as we speak, we have not received an official complaint from anybody protesting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they have denied entry because of A, B, C, or have been sent a mail to cancel their visa. So we have not received that.

“I have seen online too, where people are making statements that they are aware of some persons that maybe travelled to the US, especially student visa, but they were not allowed entry to the country at the border post,” Ebienfa said.

Dialogue before reciprocity, Ebienfa warns

Ebienfa has reiterated the ministry’s position of being open to dialogue in order to resolve the crisis issue.

The ministry, according to him, remains open to dialogue with Washington in order to find a suitable solution for Nigerians willing to travel to the US.

“So that is that for now. But for engagement, we have stated that we are still open to constructive engagement to resolve these new restrictions, new regulations that we know will cause problems for Nigerian travellers to the US,” he said.

On whether the cancellations amount to a shift in U.S. visa policy towards Nigeria, Ebienfa was categorical and emphasized that Nigeria’s strongest response would be reciprocity.

“As far as visa is concerned, you can’t compel or force anybody to grant a visa to your nationals. The best any state or any country can do is to apply reciprocity.

“So, if that is what is invoked, then the best that we can do is to ensure that the same measure that they are applying to our nationals.

“We’ll carry out or rule out the same measures against their own citizens when they apply for Nigerian visa.

Or those that maybe have visa already, then they are cancelling it at the dine minute, then we too will take same reciprocal actions,” Ebienfa declared.

Ebienfa ruled out pleading with the U.S. government, even as he admitted that the balance is skewed against Nigeria. This is as he stressed that national pride and sovereignty must guide Nigeria’s response.

“You know, the major problem is that we have more Nigerians that are struggling to travel to the US than the American nationals that are travelling to Nigeria.

“So, it’s not an equal movement in both directions. We have more persons from our own side that are going to the US.

“One thing is that the ministry cannot beg the US to allow Nigerians into their country. No, we will not do that. We will not do that.

“That is what we call national pride, that is not what we call national interest. So, you can’t force or try to plead with someone to allow your nationals into their country, no.

“The bottom line is that if you are not allowing my nationals into your country, then me too will not allow your nationals into my space. So that is the rule of reciprocity,” Ebienfa stressed.