The House of Representatives has urged the United States government to reinstate the five-year multiple-entry visa regime for Nigerian citizens, describing the recent shift to a three-month single-entry visa as detrimental to Nigeria-U.S. bilateral relations.
The resolution followed a motion raised during plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Muhammad Muktar and four other lawmakers, who expressed concern over the new visa policy implemented by the U.S. Department of State on July 8, 2025.
According to Muktar, the new visa regime would adversely affect millions of Nigerians, particularly in areas of business, education, healthcare, and family relations.
“The imposed three-month single-entry visa will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, including business constraints, academic disruption, and diaspora strain,” he said.
The House noted that while Nigeria continues to offer five-year visas to American citizens, the U.S. has now backtracked, undermining the principle of reciprocity. Lawmakers also argued that the visa restriction could jeopardise the federal government’s efforts to raise over $1 billion monthly through diaspora bonds, as it may discourage Nigerians abroad from maintaining close ties with their homeland.
The lawmakers emphasised that the longstanding Nigeria-U.S. strategic partnership, rooted in mutual respect, shared democratic values, and strong people-to-people ties, should not be eroded by restrictive policies.
Consequently, the House called on the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State to reverse the decision and reinstate the five-year multiple-entry visa for Nigerians.
Additionally, the House mandated the Nigeria-U.S. Parliamentary Friendship Group to engage with members of the U.S. Congress and relevant American institutions to resolve the matter diplomatically. It also directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin high-level dialogue with the U.S. government on the issue.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.
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