The House of Representatives has called on the US government to reverse it’s recent visa policy to the previous five-year multiple-entry
The House of Representatives has condemned the recent decision by the United States Government to reduce the validity of Nigerian non-immigrant visas from five years to just three months, describing it as a serious threat to the longstanding Nigeria-U.S. relationship.
To this effect, the House urged the U.S. Department of State to rescind the new visa policy and reinstate the previous five-year multiple-entry visa regime for Nigerians.
It mandated the Nigeria-U.S. Parliamentary Friendship Group to communicate the position of the House to the U.S. Congress, State Department, and the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
These resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Muktar Mohammed, who noted that the July 8, 2025 policy by the U.S. State Department to downgrade Nigeria’s non-immigrant visa validity to a three-month single-entry visa will have far-reaching consequences
He said: “The imposed three-month civil entry visa will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, including business constraints, academic disruption and diaspora, and family strain.
“This decision comes despite the long-standing 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.
“This policy undermines decades of goodwill, bilateral cooperation, and the sacrifices made by both governments and citizens to deepen mutual understanding, trade, education, and cultural exchange,” he added
He recalled that during recent U.S. Independence Day celebrations in Abuja, members of the Nigeria-U.S. Parliamentary Friendship Group (NUSPGF) reaffirmed the deep ties between the two countries, noting the vital role of Nigerian immigrants in America’s healthcare, technology, academia, arts, entrepreneurship, and public service sectors.
Mohammed highlighted that during recent engagements in Washington, D.C., Utah, and New York, the NUSPGF held discussions with U.S. lawmakers and policy institutions on Nigeria’s security challenges, religious profiling, and visa restrictions affecting over 200 million law-abiding Nigerians.
He expressed concern that the new visa policy reflects a lack of regard for the historical and strategic relationship between both countries, warning that it risks straining diplomatic ties and unfairly punishing Nigerian citizens.
“This House must rise in defense of ordinary Nigerians whose aspirations to study, work, or reunite with family in the U.S. now stand threatened,” Rep. Mohammed said,
Adopting the motion, the House directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage diplomatically with U.S. counterparts to safeguard the dignity and mobility of Nigerian citizens.
It also encouraged continuous institutional dialogue between Nigeria and the United States on shared democratic goals, security concerns, and human rights.
