The House of Representatives on Tuesday charged the Government of the United States of America to restore the five-year multiple visa regime recently reviewed to three months by the President Donald Trump-led government. The resolution of the House followed the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Muhammad Mukhtar and four others during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Titled “Motion on the urgent need for the United States to review its visa policy in the light of Nigeria/US strategic partnership,” the lawmakers urged the House to speak in unison and demand a reversal of the new policy. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mukhtar said, “The House notes with concern the decision by the United States Department of State on July 8, 2025, to shorten Nigerian non-immigrant visa validity from the existing five-year multiple entry visa to a three-month single entry visa. The House further notes that the imposed three-month single-entry visa will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, including business constraints, academic disruption and diaspora and family strain.”
He also argued that Nigeria looks forward to monthly remittances of US\$1 billion via diaspora bonds, a strategic objective that will be compromised if travel becomes complicated or uncertain. The sponsors also noted that the decision on the new visa regime was taken despite the longstanding, strategic, and historic relationship between Nigeria and the United States — a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared democratic values, robust bilateral cooperation and people-to-people engagement. They continued, “We recognise the fundamental role played by the House through the Nigeria United States Parliamentary Friendship Group in fostering legislative diplomacy between both countries, and its consistent engagements with its US counterparts and institutions in Washington DC, New York, Utah, and other jurisdictions, all in a bid to advance mutual understanding and policy cooperation. We are aware that during the recent celebration of the United States Independence Day in Abuja, the Chairman, Committee of the Nigeria US Parliamentary Friendship Group, reaffirmed the deeply-rooted friendship and historical ties between Nigeria and the United States.
The House is also aware that Nigerians in the United States form one of the most educated and productive immigrant communities, making enormous contributions to American healthcare, technology, academia, arts, entrepreneurship, and public service, including Chimamanda Adichie, Uzoma Asagwara, among many others. That said, the lawmakers noted that the policy shift undermines decades of goodwill, sacrifices, and bilateral efforts invested by both governments, legislatures, and citizens to promote common democratic goals, fight terrorism, and deepen trade, education, and cultural exchange.
According to them, during the recent Nigeria/US Parliamentary Friendship Group’s visit to the United States, discussions were held with US Congress members, including Rep Chris Smith, US State Department officials, and policy institutions to clarify Nigeria’s security challenges, combat religious and ethnic profiling, and removal of restrictions that unfairly punish over 200 million law-abiding Nigerian citizens for the isolated actions of non-state actors. Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the United States Embassy in Nigeria and the US Department of State to rescind the new visa policy and restore the five-year multiple entry visa regime previously granted to Nigerian citizens in the light of mutual respect, equity, and reciprocity.
It also mandated the Nigeria United States Parliamentary Friendship Group to formally communicate the position of the Honourable House to the US Congress, the US Department of State, and the US embassy in Nigeria, and to intensify bilateral legislative diplomacy. The House also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage the US government diplomatically to prevent further erosion of relations and to protect the dignity and mobility of Nigerian citizens.
It further encouraged continued dialogue between Nigerian and American institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, to resolve concerns on security, human rights, and policy misconceptions that may hinder shared democratic and economic progress.
Source : https://punchng.com/
