Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, held a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja with Richard Mills, the United States ambassador to Nigeria.
Also present at the meeting were Kemi Nanna Nandap, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary in the ministry of interior.
In a statement, Tunji-Ojo noted that the “constructive meeting” addressed the recently implemented visa procedures introduced by the US government for Nigerian citizens.
The minister stated that the US ambassador shared “valuable insights into the revised protocol and its alignment with established practices to uphold the integrity of the visa process”.
According to the statement, “The ambassador described the new e-visa policy of the Nigeria Immigration Service as an innovation intended to streamline and enhance the application process for foreign travellers into the country.”
It further mentioned that the Ministry of Interior, NIS, and the US Mission in Nigeria have agreed to deepen cooperation, focusing on compliance with visa rules and encouraging responsible travel behaviour among Nigerians.
The minister added, “Our government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) will continue to ensure strict compliance across the board in key areas, including secure travel documents, ensuring the issuance of secure travel documents with verified traveller identities.”
Other focus areas highlighted include “Visa overstay management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travellers on US visas” and “Information sharing: Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the US embassy in Nigeria had announced significant modifications to its visa policy for Nigerians, reducing the validity and entry allowance for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas.
The embassy explained that most of the revised visas will now allow single entry and be valid for only three months.
