By Cajetan Mmuta, Anthony Otaru, and David Lawani
The recent decision by the United States to cut non-immigrant visa validity for Nigerians from five-year multiple entries to a single-entry three-month visa has sparked intense criticism, outrage, and sober reflections from legal experts, rights activists, and political commentators across the country.
Although the US Embassy insists that the policy change—effective from July 8, 2025—is part of a global visa review driven by technical and security considerations, critics say Nigeria is bearing the brunt of deeper diplomatic tensions.
They argue that the move underscores how global powers perceive Nigeria’s faltering governance and deepening internal crises.
Renowned constitutional lawyer and human rights activist Prof Mike Ozekhome (SAN) slammed the development as an “unwarranted diplomatic insult,” particularly the alleged pressure from Washington for Nigeria to accept the deportation of over 300 Venezuelan prisoners.
“Why should a sovereign country accept criminal deportees from another nation in the name of friendship?” he queried.
“We are already overwhelmed with our internal security issues. Importing more problems from the US is simply unacceptable. President Tinubu must resist this with all the diplomatic tools at his disposal.”
Ozekhome further condemned what he described as a “carrot-and-stick” approach by the United States, saying visa issuance should not be used as leverage to coerce developing nations into compliance.
Echoing similar sentiments, Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), tied the US action to the deeper rot within Nigeria’s governance structure.
“We have become a joke to the international community,” he said bluntly. “When you ‘rig’ elections, forge certificates and corrupt the judiciary, no one takes you seriously. It’s not surprising the US has taken this hard line.”
He warned that the policy would significantly hurt Nigerians seeking education, medical attention, tourism, and international business partnerships, adding, “Our leaders must realise that the only way to reverse this diplomatic descent is by instituting responsible governance, judicial integrity, and credible elections.”
Onyekpere also dismissed the likelihood of meaningful Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the current climate. “Why would anyone invest in a country with no stable power, poor infrastructure, and rampant insecurity? The US hardly needs Nigeria anymore, not even for crude oil,” he noted.
For Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety), the visa cut is a by-product of long-standing governmental failure.
“This is not about BRICS or diplomatic revenge. It’s about our leaders’ failures to harness our natural and human resources. We are blessed, yet reduced to international beggars and mockery,” he said.
Umeagbalasi did not spare the US either, accusing it of targeting innocent citizens instead of corrupt state actors.
“The US should place sanctions and travel bans on Nigerian leaders who perpetuate oppression, electoral fraud, and religious extremism. Why punish students and tourists fleeing hardship?” he argued. “Seize the assets of corrupt politicians in the U.S. and send their families back to suffer with the people they’ve impoverished.”
He highlighted historical ties between Nigeria and the US, especially among the Igbo diaspora, noting that the relationship predates modern diplomacy and should be respected.
Pastor and legal advocate Barrister Paul Adoiza Omoluabi struck a more diplomatic tone. While supporting America’s right to regulate immigration, he called for urgent reforms within Nigeria. “The visa policy is a wake-up call.
Nigeria must focus on rapid development and restore investor confidence,” he advised. “Stakeholders must meet to create a roadmap that addresses both security concerns and economic growth.”
According to Omoluabi, it is high time Nigeria stopped relying on foreign validation and began addressing the root causes of its diplomatic vulnerabilities. “Only by building a country that works for its people can we earn global respect,” he concluded.
Despite reassurances from the US Embassy that the move was not politically motivated or linked to disagreements over Nigeria’s deportation stance on Venezuelans or its BRICS affiliation, many Nigerians remain unconvinced.
Nigeria was Africa’s second-largest recipient of US non-immigrant visas in 2024—accounting for nearly 20 per cent of all such visas issued on the continent.
Analysts say the new policy could have far-reaching effects on international travel, educational access, and commercial ties between both countries.
As the fallout continues, the loudest message from civil society and legal minds is clear: Nigeria must clean up its house or remain vulnerable to further diplomatic side-lining.
