Reps urge US to restore five-year visa for Nigerians, citing strained ties and travel disruption.
They say policy shift threatens businesses, diaspora remittances, and long-standing Nigeria–US diplomatic cooperation.
The House of Representatives has called on the United States government to reinstate the five-year multiple-entry visa regime for Nigerians, which was recently reduced to a three-month single-entry visa.
The appeal came on Tuesday after lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent public importance jointly sponsored by Muhammad Mukhtar and four other members during plenary.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need for the United States to Review Its Visa Policy in Light of Nigeria/US Strategic Partnership,” emphasized that Nigeria and the US enjoy a longstanding and strategic relationship built on mutual interests, democratic values, and people-to-people ties.
Presenting the motion, Mukhtar expressed concern over the US State Department’s July 8, 2025 decision to shorten the visa duration. He warned that this change would have far-reaching effects on Nigerian citizens and sectors.
“The House notes with concern the decision by the United States Department of State… to shorten Nigerian non-immigrant visa validity from the existing five-year multiple entry visa to a three-month single entry visa,” Mukhtar said.
He explained that such a restriction would negatively affect several areas limiting business travel, disrupting academic plans, and straining family ties across the diaspora. He added that Nigeria currently receives about $1 billion monthly in diaspora remittances, which could be threatened by this policy shift.
The motion also highlighted that the decision came despite deep diplomatic cooperation between both countries over the years, as well as robust efforts by lawmakers through the Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group to strengthen bilateral ties.
The lawmakers further cited the recent US Independence Day celebration in Abuja, where the Chairman of the Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group emphasized the strong historical relationship between both nations.
They pointed out that Nigerians in the US remain among the most productive immigrant groups, contributing significantly in sectors like health care, technology, education, arts, and public service with notable individuals like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Uzoma Asagwara serving as examples.
The House noted that the new visa policy undermines decades of diplomatic progress and collaboration in areas such as anti-terrorism, trade, education, and culture.
They recalled recent engagements between Nigerian lawmakers and US policymakers during a visit to Washington D.C., New York, Utah, and other cities, where discussions centered on security, religious and ethnic profiling, and policy matters that affect Nigeria’s global image.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House resolved to:
- Urge the US Embassy in Nigeria and the US State Department to reverse the decision and reinstate the five-year multiple-entry visa policy, citing the need for fairness, mutual respect, and reciprocity.
- Mandate the Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group to formally convey the House’s position to the US Congress, the US Department of State, and the US embassy in Abuja, while strengthening legislative diplomacy between both nations.
- Direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate formal diplomatic engagement with the US government to prevent further damage to bilateral relations and safeguard the dignity of Nigerian travelers.
The House also encouraged continuous dialogue between Nigerian and American governmental and non-governmental institutions to address concerns around human rights, security, and policy misunderstandings that could obstruct shared democratic and economic goals.
