Nigeria evacuating 130 citizens from S. Africa after attacks

Nigeria has announced a "voluntary repatriation" program for its citizens in South Africa, following a series of xenophobic incidents in the continent's most industrialized nation.

Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Sunday that 130 people had already registered to return home.

"This figure is expected to rise," she wrote on social media, adding that "Nigerian lives and businesses in SA must not continue to be put at risk."

Two Nigerians were killed in incidents connected to South African security personnel last month, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

Why are Nigerians leaving South Africa?

South Africa has seen an uptick in anti-immigrant rhetoric in recent months. There have been a series of protests led by groups claiming that irregular migration is hurting the country's economy.

A number of violent attacks have also been reported, mostly targeting Black Africans from other countries.

But experts have warned that immigrants are merely being scapegoated for South Africa's economic woes, and that the anti-migrant fervor is being driven by populist pundits online.

According to South Africa's national statistics agency, there are some 3 million immigrants living in the country, roughly 5% of the population, with the majority coming from the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.

What did South Africa say about the anti-migrant violence?

South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told the press that he had spoken over the phone with Odumegwu-Ojukwu and "We reflected on the challenges posed by irregular migration and committed to working to address the root causes, find common and sustainable solutions to this shared concern."

The Nigerian Foreign Ministry said that South Africa's high commissioner in Abuja was set to hold talks with Nigerian representatives on Monday to discuss "documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses."

South Africa is set to hold elections on November 4. Odumegwu-Ojukwu blamed anti-foreigner opposition parties for stoking "a repetitive wave" of xenophobic rhetoric "to garner votes."

Last week, Firoz Cachalia, South Africa's acting police minister, condemned the anti-migrant violence, saying: "Acts of xenophobia, violence, looting or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

By Elizabeth Schumacher, DW

Related story: Nigeria summons South Africa envoy over xenophobic incidents

Nigeria summons South Africa envoy over xenophobic incidents

Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner to a meeting at the foreign ministry on Monday, citing growing anti-African migrant protests.

The move comes just over a week after Ghana's foreign ministry held talks with South Africa's acting high commissioner in Accra to protest several alleged "xenophobic incidents" involving Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, news outlet City Press reports that South African trucks and citizens could be prevented from entering neighboring Mozambique on Monday, as protests were expected at Ressano Garcia in retaliation for xenophobic marches, statements and attacks against immigrants in South Africa.

The developments come only days after South Africa's police ministry vowed to crack down on anyone carrying out xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other foreign nationals, or found participating in or inciting xenophobic acts.

Xenophobia not new in South Africa

Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa, and in recent months more anti-migrant protests have been reported, some of which included violence against foreign shopkeepers.

The focus of the anti-migrant incidents has been Black Africans, with more than two thirds of South Africa's estimated three million foreign residents coming from neighboring Southern African countries.

With an unemployment rate of more than 30%, campaigners for migrant rights say migrants have been scapegoated in South Africa for the country's economic woes.

Ferial Haffajee, the associate editor of South Africa's Daily Maverick, wrote that "political entrepreneurs" had been abusing the situation.

"Populist political entrepreneurs who leverage social media and the social harm of widespread unemployment and inequality to drive campaigns that build their followings. This can later be parsed into political leadership positions and a high life," she wrote.

Some mainstream South African political parties, including Action SA and Inkatha Freedom Party, have also joined demonstrations, which they say were to protest undocumented migrants.

International concern over anti-migrant violence

Nigeria and Ghana are not the only countries to raise concern about the trend.

On April 27, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement released by his spokesman that he was "deeply concerned by reports of xenophobic attacks and acts of harassment and intimidation against migrants and foreign nationals."

"Violence, vigilantism and all forms of incitement to hatred have no place in an inclusive, democratic society governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights," he said.

South Africa's foreign affairs minister, Ronald Lamola, last month told a meeting of government officials that violence against migrants was a threat to South Africa's constitutional order.

"Acts of lawlessness, intimidation and violence against migrant communities have no place in our constitutional democracy," he said.

The country's police minister, Firoz Cachalia, said, "acts of xenophobia, violence, looting, or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

By Louis Oelofse, DW

Related story: Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa after attacks

Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa after attacks

Nigeria is planning to repatriate its nationals in South Africa willing to return home voluntarily, amid growing fears that recent attacks on foreigners there could escalate.

Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said 130 applicants had already registered for the exercise, adding that the number was expected to rise.

She expressed President Bola Tinubu's concern about the attacks in the southern African nation, and condemned the violence against foreign nationals and demonstrations characterised by "xenophobic rhetoric, hate speeches and incendiary anti-migrant statements".

Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting High Commissioner over the issue.

Nigeria will formally convey its "profound concern" at a meeting later on Monday over the incidents in South Africa, saying they could affect existing relations between the countries, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The meeting will focus on recent marches held by anti-immigrant groups and "documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses", it said.

On Sunday, Nigeria's foreign minister said: "Nigerian lives and businesses in South Africa must not continue to be put at risk, and we remain committed to working to explore with South Africa ways to put an end to this."

She cited the killing of two Nigerians in separate incidents involving local security personnel, insisting that her government was demanding justice.

She said the Nigerian president's priority was for the safety of citizens and "consequently, arrangements are currently under way to collate details of Nigerians in South Africa for voluntary repatriation flights for those seeking assistance to return home".

Four Ethiopian nationals have also been killed in recent weeks, local media reported, while there have been attacks on citizens of other African countries.

As Africa's most industrialised country, people from elsewhere in the continent have long travelled to South Africa to seek work.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks but also cautioned foreigners to respect local laws.

He used his Freedom Day address last week - marking the country's first democratic elections in 1994 - to remind South Africans of the support other African nations had given in the struggle against the racist system of apartheid.

But some South Africans accuse foreigners of being in the county illegally, taking jobs from locals and having links to crime, especially drugs trafficking.

Anti-immigrant groups have been stopping people outside hospitals and schools demanding to see their identity papers.

During a march by one such group in the capital, Pretoria, last week, foreign-owned businesses were urged to close in case of violence.

At the time, one Nigerian man told BBC Pidgin: "It is not okay because we are blacks, we are brothers... everybody comes here just to survive."

A security guard, who was unable to go to work because of the protest, told the BBC: "It's not what we expected as fellow Africans."

"It's just making us scared - imagine if we're scared in our own African continent - what if we go to Europe?" he asked.

Last month, Ghana summoned South Africa's top envoy after a video was widely shared showing a Ghanaian man being challenged to prove he had the correct immigration papers.

Anti-immigrant sentiment rose earlier this year after reports that the head of the Nigerian community in the port city of KuGompo (formerly East London) had been installed in a traditional role that can be translated as "king". Some South Africans in the local area saw this as an attempt to grab political power.

South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, just less than 4% of the population, according to official figures. However, many more are thought to be in the country unofficially.

Most come from neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which have a history of providing migrant labour to their wealthy neighbour. A smaller number come from Nigeria.

By Paul Njieand Joseph Winter, BBC

UK agrees deal to ease migrant returns to Nigeria

 

The government has agreed a deal with Nigeria to make it easier to remove people with no right to be in the UK.

For the first time, the Nigerian government will recognise UK letters - an identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport - so people will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued before they can be returned.

The agreement was struck during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu state visit to the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the president's visit - the first by a leader of a west African nation in 37 years - as "historic".

On Wednesday, the King hosted a spectacular state banquet at Windsor Castle for the president and first lady, praising the strength of the ties between the two nations.

President Tinubu also met the prime minister at No 10.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders "committed to deepening their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth".

They also agreed to work more closely together on defence and security in response to transnational crime and terrorism, the spokesperson said.

The Home Office said the immigration deal would make it easier to return people who overstay their visas, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.

It said annual returns to Nigeria had nearly doubled to 1,150.

The two countries have also agreed to launch joint operations and share information to crack down on criminal gangs abusing visa routes.

A new standardised document-checking system will be introduced to verify the authenticity of applications.

The Home Office said it followed a series of high-profile cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial or employment records.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will review its laws to ensure the toughest possible sentences are given to immigration offenders.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: "Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK's largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here."

A separate deal, worth £746m, will see two major ports in Lagos refurbished with the help of UK-backed loans.

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government's export credit agency, has provided a guarantee to the banks loaning the funds under the condition at least 20% of the contracts are sourced from the UK.

At least £236m of supplier contracts will be directed to British firms, including £70m for British steel - the company's largest ever export backed by UKEF.

It comes as the UK sets out a new strategy to boost the domestic steel industry.

Tinubu's visit was also the first to the UK by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century.

Special adaptations were made to the state banquet, with a prayer room set aside in Windsor Castle, while the usual lunch hosted by the King did not take place as Tinubu was fasting.

On Thursday, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who is Christian, also visited Lambeth Palace, the London home of the archbishop of Canterbury.

The visit comes at a time of tension within Nigeria, with a series of suspected suicide bombings this week in the north-eastern state of Borno, in which at least 23 people were killed and 108 injured in attacks blamed on hard-line Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group.

By Becky Morton, BBC

US visa bond scuttles travel plans for Nigerians

Travelers from over 20 African countries must now pay refundable bonds of up to $15,000 for US business and tourist visas, a policy aimed at reducing overstays. Uche Ohiri, a Nigerian visa applicant, says she has delayed her US plans and is now uncertain about reapplying due to the new financial requirement. Travel consultant Precious Okafor says that the policy is deterring hardworking Nigerians from pursuing short vacations, with many now looking to countries like Canada or the UK instead.

CGTN Africa

U.S. suspends visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

The United States of America has announced an indefinite suspension of visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries with effect from Jan. 21, 2026.A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing law, while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed.

According to the memo, the pause begins on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the Department of State completes its reassessment of visa processing.

The State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said that “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The United States and Nigeria operate visa reciprocity policies, which means that countries set visa rules based on how their citizens are treated abroad.

If U.S. citizens face limits or high fees, Nigeria may impose similar restrictions through reciprocity schedules.

The key aspects include fees, validity periods and permitted numbers of entries.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil and Burma.

Others listed are Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The other countries include Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan and Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco and Nepal.

The list also includes Nicaragua, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

APA News

US introduces $15,000 visa bond for Nigerians

The United States has introduced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to post bonds of up to $15,000.

According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, adding that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.

Of the listed Nations, African countries accounted for 24 of the 38, including Nigeria, in the updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday.

Visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US State Department for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk, who are applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes.

The implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria’s date set for January 21, 2026.

The Department of State said nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with implementation dates shown in parentheses.

Countries affected include Algeria (21 January 2026), Angola (21 January 2026), Antigua and Barbuda (21 January 2026), Bangladesh (21 January 2026), Benin (21 January 2026), Bhutan (1 January 2026), Botswana (1 January 2026), Burundi (21 January 2026), Cabo Verde (21 January 2026), Central African Republic (1 January 2026), Côte d’Ivoire (21 January 2026), Cuba (21 January 2026), Djibouti (21 January 2026), Dominica (21 January 2026).

Others are; Fiji (21 January 2026), Gabon (21 January 2026), The Gambia (11 October 2025), Guinea (1 January 2026), Guinea-Bissau (1 January 2026), Kyrgyzstan (21 January 2026), Malawi (20 August 2025), Mauritania (23 October 2025), Namibia (1 January 2026), Nepal (21 January 2026).

The rest are; Nigeria (21 January 2026), São Tomé and Príncipe (23 October 2025), Senegal (21 January 2026), Tajikistan (21 January 2026), Tanzania (23 October 2025), Togo (21 January 2026), Tonga (21 January 2026), Turkmenistan (1 January 2026), Tuvalu (21 January 2026), Uganda (21 January 2026), Vanuatu (21 January 2026), Venezuela (21 January 2026), Zambia (20 August 2025), and Zimbabwe (21 January 2026).

The directive states that, “Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined during the visa interview.

“Applicants must also submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352. Applicants must also agree to the terms of the bond through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of the place of application.”

It added that Visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through designated airports, including Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Bonds will only be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or when a traveller applies for and is denied admission at a US port of entry.

This development follows the introduction of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria a week earlier. Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries, including Angola, Antigua, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia and others that were placed under partial travel suspensions by the US government on 16 December.

In Nigeria’s case, the US cited the presence and operations of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of the country, resulting in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”

An overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M, and J visas was also cited as a justification for Nigeria’s inclusion. As a result, the travel suspension covered immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

By Deborah Musa, Punch

U.S. revokes 85,000 visas held by Nigerians and other foreign nationals

The U.S. State Department has revoked a record 85,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals, including some Nigerians, as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of visitors entering the United States.

According to officials, more than 8,000 of the revoked visas were student visas, a figure that is more than double the number recorded in 2024.

Officials say the visa revocations were driven by a range of security and criminal concerns, including DUIs, assault and theft, offences that together accounted for nearly half of all cancellations over the past year.

“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” a U.S. official said.

The update comes as Trump, upon assuming office, vowed to lead the largest deportation drive and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States.

Criminal and security concerns

U.S. consular officers have been instructed to take a tougher approach to H-1B applications and deny visas to anyone found to have engaged in “censorship or attempted censorship” of protected speech in the United States.

In November, the Department of State cited assault, theft, and driving under the influence among the major reasons for the visa revocations.

Other reasons include terrorism, supporting terrorism, public safety threats, and overstaying visas.

The administration also moved to pause immigration from 19 countries already subject to partial or full travel restrictions.

Last week, the State Department announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting individuals accused of orchestrating anti-Christian violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The measure follows a series of deadly attacks in the West African nation.

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria’s Nobel-winning author Wole Soyinka says his US visa was revoked

 

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that his non-resident visa to enter the United States had been rejected, adding that he believes it may be because he recently criticized U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Nigerian author, 91, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to do so.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Soyinka said he believed it had little to do with him and was instead a product of the United States’ immigration policies. He said he was told to reapply if he wished to enter again.

“It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” he said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”

Soyinka, who has taught in the U.S. and previously held a green card, joked on Tuesday that his green card “had an accident” eight years ago and “fell between a pair of scissors.” In 2017, he destroyed his green card in protest of President Trump’s first inauguration.

The letter he received informing him of his visa revocation cites “additional information became available after the visa was issued,” as the reason for its revocation, but does not describe what that information was.

Soyinka believes it may be because he recently referred to Trump as a “white version of Idi Amin,” a reference to the dictator who ruled Uganda from 1971 until 1979.

The U.S. Consulate in Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, directed all questions to the State Department press office in Washington, D.C., which did not respond to immediate requests for comment.

Soyinka jokingly referred to it as a “love letter” and said that while he did not blame the officials, he would not be applying for another visa.

“I have no visa. I am banned, obviously, from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”

By Wilson McMakin, AP

Japan scraps JICA ‘Africa Hometown’ agreement with Nigeria

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has terminated the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative following widespread protests in Japan, over concerns that the programme would trigger increased immigration from Africa.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry is scrapping the initiative after struggling to contain the slew of misinformation that had spread after the Nigerian government falsely announced that the agreement would create a new visa category that allowed Africans to relocate to Japan.

The “hometown” agreement, announced by JICA at an African development conference in Yokohama in August, aims to strengthen Japan’s ties with Nigeria and other African countries.

It was intended to foster exchanges between four municipalities in Japan and four countries in Africa.

The Japanese cities and their respective partner nations were: Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture with Nigeria; Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture with Tanzania; Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture with Ghana; and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture with Mozambique.

However, President Bola Tinubu’s administration announced that the new partnership with Japan would create a special visa for Nigerians to work in Japan.

This announcement, however, created a flurry of misinformation online that eventually led to waves of protests in Japan, with citizens calling for the programme’s cancellation.

According to the Japan Times, the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Akihiko Tanaka, on Thursday said, “Taking the situation seriously, upon consultations with stakeholders, JICA has decided to cancel the ‘Africa Hometown Initiative.”

“We emphasize, however, that promoting international exchange, including with Africa, remains an important priority, and pledge to continue supporting such efforts despite withdrawing the Africa hometown project.”

By Beloved John, Premium Times

U.S. defends visa revocations, cites security concerns as Nigerians face entry barriers

Responding to reports of visa revocations affecting Nigerian students, business travelers, and professionals who were asked to return their passports after being informed their visas were no longer valid, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja said the process was a security measure that falls within its legal mandate.

In an earlier report, Business Insider Africa disclosed that some Nigerians were being blocked from entering the U.S. after discovering at airports that their visas had been cancelled without prior notice.

The development was revealed by former NNPC spokesperson Femi Soneye, who said several Nigerians had reached out to him to complain about the cancellations, stressing that they came without any form of warning.

Embassy defends move to ‘secure borders’

A spokesperson for the Embassy told BBC News Pidgin that the revocations were being carried out on “a scale never seen before” as part of efforts to secure America’s borders.

Citing Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the spokesperson noted that both the Secretary of State and consular officers are empowered to revoke visas at any time if there is “indication of a potential ineligibility.”

“The Trump Administration is protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the Embassy stated.

“Prohibiting entry to the United States by those who may pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home.”

Officials further explained that revocations may target cases involving visa overstays, violations of U.S. law, engagement in criminal activity, or alleged ties to terrorism.

While Nigeria is not on Washington’s formal list of banned or restricted countries, the revocations have nevertheless alarmed many Nigerians who argue that the process lacks transparency, given that most recipients were told only that “new information had come up.”

The controversy has fueled frustration among affected travelers, particularly students and professionals, who say the sudden withdrawals have disrupted their academic, business, and personal plans.

Still, Washington has made it clear that its stance is unlikely to soften, as it continues to emphasize security imperatives over diplomatic sensitivities.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Nigerian U.S. visa holders quietly blocked from entry as investigations unfold

Nigerian U.S. visa holders quietly blocked from entry as investigations unfold

A new report has revealed that the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has quietly begun revoking visas without warning, disrupting the lives of Nigerian professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travelers, and families who suddenly find their mobility stripped away.

The revelation, made by Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigeria’s national oil company, the NNPC Ltd, in an article published in The Cable, points to an unsettling pattern of unexplained cancellations.

According to Soneye, many Nigerians who had long traveled to and from the U.S. without incident are now receiving terse notices of revocation.

“Each had to abruptly cancel engagements, refund tickets, and explain to partners abroad why they could no longer show up. In some cases, the humiliation has been unbearable: travelers discovering at the airport, sometimes even at boarding gates, that their visas had been quietly invalidated."

"A few were briefly detained by immigration authorities before being sent home in shame,” Soneye disclosed, describing the embarrassment some affected visa holders faced at airports as they attempted to leave the country.

The cancellation letters, citing Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, claim only that “new information became available after the visa was issued.”

But beyond that line, no details are shared. No evidence is presented. No avenue for appeal is offered.

Recipients are told only that they may reapply, a costly and uncertain process that offers little reassurance to those who had already built business plans, family reunions, or educational opportunities around U.S. travel.

An offshoot of Trump’s immigration clampdown?

What makes the development more troubling is its timing.

The Trump administration has recently rolled out a series of visa restrictions targeting countries in Africa, citing security and immigration risks.

Nigeria, one of Africa’s top economy and a longstanding U.S. partner, has increasingly found itself caught in the dragnet. While Washington has not publicly linked the Nigerian cancellations to the broader policy shift, observers say the pattern fits within a tightening of U.S. entry controls for African nationals.

Yet the opacity of the process is raising alarms. Neither the U.S. Embassy in Abuja nor Nigerian authorities have issued a public statement explaining the sudden wave of cancellations.

For those affected, the silence is devastating. Many insist they have never overstayed their visas, violated immigration rules, or raised any security red flags. For them, the revocations feel less like routine enforcement and more like a targeted policy shift operating in the shadows.

“For many, this is not just about stamps on a passport. These visas are lifelines for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and critical business. To have them snatched away without explanation is to leave lives suspended in confusion and despair.” Soneye argued

The implications are wide-reaching. Each revoked visa represents not only an individual setback but also a blow to Nigeria’s international business and professional networks. Entrepreneurs lose access to global markets, students face uncertainty over study plans, and families are left grappling with missed reunions.

Shipping, oil and gas, and tech executives, sectors heavily reliant on U.S. ties, are particularly exposed.

In the absence of transparency, speculation is filling the void. Some see the cancellations as fallout from shifting U.S.–Africa relations under Trump.

Others suggest bureaucratic overreach or unannounced security screening measures.

But until officials in Washington or Abuja break their silence, thousands of Nigerians remain stranded in uncertainty and holding visas that no longer open doors.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria adopts US-style social media visa vetting

Nigeria on Monday said it plans to impose reciprocal visa requirements on US citizens following Washington's new rule demanding that Nigerian applicants disclose their social media activity for the past five years.

The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision after the US Mission in Nigeria issued its directive over the weekend.
What does the US visa rule require?

The US Mission said applicants must list all social media usernames, handles, email addresses and phone numbers linked to accounts used in the last five years.

"Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form," the mission said.

It added that applicants would be required to certify that the information in their visa application was correct before signing and submitting it.

"Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," said the mission.

The regulation is part of broader measures by the Trump administration that it says are to "ensure national security."

The rule expands an earlier requirement for international students to share their accounts and even lower privacy settings.

Officials said the information would help vet applications more thoroughly.

What is Nigeria planning in response to the US visa requirement?

Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said the government would adopt the same measures for Americans applying for Nigerian visas.

"Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures. Anything visa is reciprocal. What you are mandating our nationals to do, we will also mandate your citizens applying for our visa to do," he said.

He added that the Foreign Ministry will hold an inter-agency meeting with the Interior Ministry and the National Intelligence Agency to finalize the policy.

"We will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically," Ebienfa said. Officials stressed that Nigeria was informed of the US plan in advance.

The move comes as Nigeria faces pressure to protect its citizens from what it sees as restrictive foreign immigration rules.

Ebienfa's comments were reported in the online editions of two of Nigeria's biggest newspapers, Punch and Vanguard.

In July, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the country would not bow to increased pressure to accept deported Venezuelans from US President Donald Trump.

By Richard Connor, DW

Nigeria to impose reciprocal measures on US citizens after new visa rules

The Federal Government has said it may subject United States citizens seeking Nigerian visas to the same requirements recently imposed by the US on Nigerian applicants.

The development follows new US visa regulations requiring applicants to submit details of their social media history and other online activities.

Speaking on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “We are aware of the development. I think it’s part of the new measures they informed us about before implementation. On things of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures.”

Ebienfa added that an inter-agency meeting will be convened to determine Nigeria’s coordinated response.

“The government will have an inclusive meeting that will involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and also our National Intelligence Agency, NIA. The stakeholders that are involved will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically,” he said.

The US Mission in Nigeria had previously announced that visa applicants must provide their user IDs, email addresses, usernames, handles, and telephone numbers used on all platforms over the past five years.

The Mission warned that failure to submit accurate information could result in visa denial and ineligibility for future entry into the United States.

The directive forms part of broader immigration tightening measures introduced by the US government to enhance national security, expanding earlier rules that applied mainly to international student visa applicants.

The Guardian

Video - Nigeria, U.S tensions mount over immigration and trade disputes

Relations between Nigeria and the U.S. are worsening following a dispute over deported Venezuelans, new U.S. visa restrictions, and trade tariffs on Nigerian exports. Experts say the conflict reflects deeper issues, including Nigeria’s foreign policy stance on Gaza.

CGTN Africa

Kemi Badenoch makes false claim about Nigerian citizenship

The leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, claims that she is unable to pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman. This is despite the fact the Nigerian Constitution does not discriminate against any gender when passing on Nigerian citizenship.

The Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their parents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.

Ms Badenoch, however, said on Sunday that while many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UK’s relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, it remains “virtually impossible to obtain Nigerian citizenship.”

While speaking with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria during an interview, the 45-year-old British politician said there was a need for the UK to tighten its citizenship and immigration policy.

She used her children’s alleged inability to get Nigerian citizenship to illustrate the stark contrast between Nigeria’s approach and that of the UK.

“I have that (Nigerian) citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said.

“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquiring British citizenship. We need to stop being naive,” she added.

Despite being born to Nigerian parents and migrating to the UK at the age of 16, Ms Badenoch has repeatedly criticised the UK’s immigration policy, which she says makes it too easy for citizens of Nigeria and other countries to move to the UK.

She has consistently called for stricter immigration controls.

“We are allowing our tolerance to be exploited. That is not right,” she said in the CNN interview.

“Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept.

“There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries,” she added.


Reviewing Claim of Nigerian citizenship

Ms Badenoch’s claim about Nigeria’s citizenship policy is at best inaccurate.

Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their paparents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the child’s birth. This is regardless of whether that parent is the mother or the father.

By this, a Nigerian-born mother can pass citizenship to her child, just like a Nigerian-born father can.

Ms Badenoch did not provide details of her efforts to get Nigerian passports for her three children. However, based on the constitutional provision, the children could only legally have been denied Nigerian citizenship if she had renounced her Nigerian citizenship before their birth. Ms Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a Northern Irish bank official and politician. They got married in 2012.

The Conservative Party leader said that if her party becomes the UK’s ruling party, under her leadership, the UK would prioritise implementing stricter policies on citizenship acquisition and immigration.

“It’s been too easy. It is basically a conveyor belt. We want people who want to come to the UK and be net contributors, not people who will immigrate and then need welfare and social housing.

“That’s not right because they haven’t paid into the system,” she said.

By Beloved John, Premium Times

Nigeria rejects US push to accept Venezuelan deportees

Nigeria has pushed back on accepting Venezuelans deported from the United States, after US media reported President Donald Trump was urging African countries to take in deportees from around the world.

Deporting people to third countries has been a hallmark of the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented migrants, notably by sending hundreds to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

"The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons," Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday.

"It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners. We have enough problems of our own," he added.

Tuggar also suggested the US motivation for threatening tariffs against the Brics political bloc – of which Nigeria is a member – was related to the issue of deportations.

Trump has announced a 10 percent tariff on Nigerian goods exported to the US.

Contentious deportations

The president of Guinea-Bissau told reporters that Trump had raised the issue of deportations to third-countries but "he didn't ask us to take immigrants back".

RFI

US cuts visa validity for most Nigerian applicants

The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the country.

Staring 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months.

It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

The Nigerian government has not yet commented.

The State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks.

In a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international standards.

These include: issuing secure travel documents, managing visa overstays, sharing security or criminal data for public safety purposes.

The US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States".

Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world.

By Chiamaka Enendu and Mansur Abubakar, BBC

Related story: Canada denies over 13,000 Nigerians refugee status

Video - Nigeria rejects EU'S migrant return plan, champions legal migration model

The European Union wants Nigeria to help with returning migrants, but Nigerian officials believe the bloc isn't looking at the bigger picture. Nigeria is pushing a legal migration model, sending skilled workers abroad through official channels, and insists any deal must ensure safety, dignity and opportunity.

CGTN

Related story: Canada and Nigeria working to combat migrant smuggling, human trafficking and irregular migration

Nigeria to launch e-visa, digital card

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says the federal government will launch an e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards to enhance national security.

He disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

According to Mr Keyamo, the e-visa system will enable applicants to submit visa requests online and upload required documents electronically.

He added that the manual landing and exit cards would be digitalised, requiring visitors to pre-fill their information before travelling to Nigeria.

“What we are doing here today reflects this government’s commitment to cooperation between ministries with overlapping mandates.

“Today is another example of inter-ministerial collaboration. This specifically concerns the introduction of the e-visa system,” he said.

He said further details would be given by Mr Tunji-Ojo, and that relevant agencies such as Immigration, NCAA, and FAAN would fully support the initiative.


Mr Keyamo emphasised that there was no objection to the programme, which primarily falls under the Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior stated the automation system will commence on 1 May.

He noted that the e-visa application will be free and is designed to simplify entry into Nigeria while boosting national security.

Mr Tunji-Ojo explained the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will manage landing and exit cards, which travellers must complete online before boarding.

“Coordinating and issuing regulations to airlines is naturally the NCAA’s responsibility,” Mr Tunji-Ojo said.

He revealed a central visa approval centre already exists at Immigration headquarters, with trained officers and integrated global criminal record checks.

“Better background checks will be conducted for travellers entering Nigeria. We aim to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a transparent visa process.

“Our goal is to open Nigeria’s borders without compromising security. Both Interior and Aviation ministries have critical roles in this,” he said.

Premium Times