The United States has announced a sharp reduction in visa durations for nationals of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia — a move it describes as part of a “global reciprocity realignment.”
The new policy, unveiled by the US Department of State, stipulates that nearly all non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas issued to citizens of the three nations will now be restricted to a single entry and valid for only three months.
Previously, these visas often allowed multiple entries over several years.
In a swift response, Nigerian authorities rejected claims that their current visa policy for Americans justified the change.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated on Thursday:
“We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation.”
He insisted that Nigeria still grants American citizens five-year multiple-entry visas.
Meanwhile, the US maintains that its decision stems from a review of each country’s visa policies and security cooperation.
Under the current policy, US citizens are eligible for up to one-year visas in Cameroon and 90-day visas in Ethiopia.
However, officials in both countries have yet to issue public statements addressing the decision.
The Nigerian government has voiced concern over the development, calling it a disproportionate measure.
Authorities warn it could negatively impact long-standing educational and cultural exchanges with the US — ties that have historically fostered strong bilateral relations.
The State Department reiterated that all visa policies remain “subject to ongoing review” and will evolve based on diplomatic, immigration, and security benchmarks.
It added that it is engaging with the affected countries to ensure adherence to global standards, including secure travel documentation, management of visa overstays, and intelligence sharing on criminal activity.
The move comes just weeks after the US imposed harsher restrictions on Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, suspending all categories of immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
In a controversial development, the US has also intensified vetting procedures, now requiring visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts — part of a broader effort to detect “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, remains a major contributor to the US academic landscape.
According to the 2024 Open Doors report published by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Nigeria ranked seventh globally — and first in Africa — among sources of international students in the US, with a 13.5% increase from 2023.
The US decision has fueled speculation about broader geopolitical motives.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, linked the move to Nigeria’s recent diplomatic engagements outside the Western sphere.
“This is not solely about reciprocity.
Rather, it appears to reflect growing US discomfort with Nigeria’s increasing global realignment, particularly the warm reception we are receiving from the Brics,” he posted on X.
However, immigration lawyer Godwin Oke offered a contrasting view in an interview with the BBC:
“This is a classic case of visa reciprocity under international diplomatic practice. Countries often align their visa terms to reflect mutual treatment.
The US had been issuing Nigerians five-year multiple-entry visas, while Nigeria only offered Americans short-term, single-entry visas.
From a policy standpoint, it was only a matter of time before the imbalance was addressed.”
Earlier this year, the US Mission in Nigeria issued a stern reminder about the consequences of overstaying visas, including potential bans and criminal prosecution.
Though there is no official data on overstay rates by Nigerian travelers, the concern remains high — especially as many young Nigerians seek to emigrate, in a trend popularly known as Japa, a Yoruba term meaning “to escape.”
With tensions simmering and mobility aspirations under threat, the visa clampdown signals more than just a bureaucratic adjustment — it could redefine US-Africa engagement in the years ahead.
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