Presidency Denies Cancelling 5-Year Multiple-Entry Visas for US Citizens

The Presidency has denied reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu cancelled the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas for United States citizens.

In a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, the Presidency clarified that Nigeria continues to grant five-year non-immigrant visas to US citizens under existing bilateral agreements and reciprocal arrangements.

Persecondnews reports that the clarification comes on the heels of the US government’s revision of its visa policy for Nigerian citizens.

In early July 2025, the US government reduced most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visa categories, including B-1/B-2 (tourist/business), F (student), and J (exchange), to single-entry, three-month validity.

The US Embassy in Abuja explained that the decision is part of its global visa reciprocity policy, aiming to ensure that visa treatment of US citizens is mirrored by host countries.

However, the Presidency faulted the US government’s claim that Nigeria failed to reciprocate its five-year, multiple-entry visa policy.

“Contrary to misinformation and fake news circulating online, President Bola Tinubu has never stopped issuing 5-year multiple-entry visas for US citizens, in accordance with the principle of subsisting bilateral agreements and reciprocity,” it said.

The Presidency also addressed recent confusion surrounding Nigeria’s introduction of a 90-day e-visa, clarifying that the shorter visa validity applies only to the newly introduced digital visa-on-arrival system, and not to standard visa categories.

“The 90-day single-entry visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait,” the statement added.

The Presidency affirmed that Nigeria remains committed to resolving the issue through diplomacy.

“In the spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, and partnership that have characterised the relationship between Nigeria and the United States over the decades, the Tinubu-led administration will continue to dialogue and engage with US authorities to resolve any issues that have led to the recent developments,” the statement reads.