FG Plans Reciprocal Action Against US Visa Policy
Nigerians seeking U.S. visas must now submit five years of social media records.
The Federal Government says it will enforce similar requirements on Americans applying for Nigerian visas.
Newskobo.com earlier reported that U.S. visa applicants must now disclose all social media usernames used within the past five years.
The United States has introduced new rules requiring Nigerians applying for visas to provide details of their social media accounts and activities from the past five years. The US government warned that failure to comply could result in visa denial or future entry bans.
The announcement, made by the US Mission in Nigeria on X, explained that applicants must include usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, and other identifiers used on any social media platform within the period. “Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future U.S visas,” the Mission said.
The stricter checks are part of immigration measures under former President Donald Trump aimed at boosting national security. Reports also indicate that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has tightened its naturalization process with a new “Good Moral Character” policy, requiring officers to assess applicants’ lifestyle, contributions to society, and compliance with laws, beyond just their criminal records.
Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said it would apply the same rules to Americans seeking entry into Nigeria. Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that an inter-agency meeting would be held to decide the country’s full response.
“So, on things of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” Ebienfa said.
The new directive follows earlier visa restrictions on Nigerians, including limits on multiple-entry visas and reduced validity periods, which the US linked to reciprocity and concerns over overstays. The embassy stressed that such rules were part of ongoing reviews to protect the integrity of its immigration system.