President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed relevant federal agencies to urgently address the concerns raised by the United States and the United Arab Emirates regarding recent changes to their visa policies affecting Nigerian citizens.
This directive was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the U.S. government officially informed Nigeria that its decision to adjust visa privileges for Nigerian passport holders stemmed from two primary issues: an increase in visa overstay cases involving Nigerians and difficulties in accessing credible applicant records.
Washington further explained that the adjustments are part of its global visa reciprocity framework, which is routinely reviewed and subject to policy revisions, including entry limits and validity periods.
President Tinubu, in response, instructed all concerned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to work collaboratively and ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations.
The President specifically tasked the agencies with enhancing intergovernmental cooperation and fortifying systems that authenticate the identities of Nigerians seeking consular services abroad.
“The President calls on all Nigerians to respect the immigration regulations of their host countries and to uphold the integrity of the permits and privileges granted to them under the laws of those jurisdictions,” the statement read.
On the visa situation involving the United Arab Emirates, the Federal Government noted that it had not received any formal notification from Abu Dhabi authorities indicating a change in visa policy. However, it acknowledged that visa issuance was proceeding “in a gradual and orderly manner.”
Despite the absence of official communication, President Tinubu welcomed the constructive engagement of the UAE government, affirming that any genuine concerns being addressed through diplomatic channels were receiving the attention of Nigerian authorities.
The statement reaffirmed the Federal Government’s “unwavering commitment to maintaining and strengthening the longstanding and cordial diplomatic relations” with both countries and assured citizens that Nigeria’s foreign policy under the Tinubu administration remains focused on ensuring that Nigerians can “travel, work, and live with dignity and respect in any part of the world.”
President Tinubu’s stance aligns with the administration’s 4-D Foreign Policy agenda, which prioritises Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora engagement.
As engagements continue, the Federal Government pledged to sustain its efforts at improving international cooperation, data-sharing mechanisms, and transparency in the visa application process to avoid future bottlenecks for Nigerian citizens abroad.
The statement also reiterated the President’s assurance that no effort would be spared to protect the interests of Nigerians globally and to foster mutual respect in all bilateral relations.