The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reportedly begun revoking valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, according to an article by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd. The move is causing major disruptions for professionals, entrepreneurs, and families, creating significant financial and logistical challenges.
In his article, titled ‘The Quiet Revocation: Why Is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?’ Soneye reported that many affected individuals have received official letters from the embassy instructing them to submit their passports at the Lagos or Abuja consulates. Once submitted, their visas were canceled without any further explanation.
The notices reportedly cited Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, stating only that “new information became available after the visa was issued,” without offering any further details, evidence, or options for appeal.
Those impacted include a prominent journalist, the head of a federal government agency, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a flawless travel record. Many were forced to cancel overseas trips at short notice, with some travelers only discovering the cancellations at airports, where a few were briefly detained by immigration officials before being turned back.
Despite the growing concern, neither the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria nor Nigerian authorities have issued an official statement addressing the wave of cancellations, leaving affected citizens in a state of uncertainty.
Affected individuals insist they have never overstayed visas, violated immigration rules, or posed security risks. The sudden revocations have sparked fears of a targeted tightening of U.S. visa policy against Nigerians. Analysts note that applicants from high-migration countries have historically faced increased scrutiny, raising concerns that the current wave of cancellations may be a continuation of this practice.
Source: The Guardian