President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to respect immigration laws abroad following recent adjustments to visa regulations by the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which have stirred concern among travellers and sparked intense debate across social media.
In a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the U.S. government informed Nigeria that its revised visa policy was driven by two key issues: an increase in visa overstays by Nigerian nationals and challenges in accessing applicants’ records. Washington clarified that the changes are part of its routine global visa reciprocity review, which includes periodic policy assessments on entry conditions and visa validity.
The new U.S. measures came just days after the UAE imposed stricter entry conditions for Nigerians. Among them is a requirement that applicants aged 18 to 45 must be accompanied before being considered for tourist visas. For those above 45, eligibility now depends on submitting a personal six-month bank statement showing a minimum monthly balance of $10,000 or its naira equivalent.
Despite these developments, the Nigerian government said it has not received any official notification from UAE authorities regarding a change in policy. However, it confirmed that visa issuance is continuing in what it described as a “gradual and orderly manner.”
President Tinubu, in response to the unfolding situation, directed all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to work together to ensure full compliance with Nigeria’s international obligations. He also urged Nigerians to uphold the terms of immigration permits granted to them, stressing the importance of protecting the country’s global reputation.
“The President calls on all Nigerians to respect the immigration regulations of their host countries and to uphold the integrity of the permits and privileges granted to them under the laws of those jurisdictions,” the statement read.
Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to robust diplomatic relations, the statement welcomed the constructive engagement of the UAE government and noted that any concerns raised through official channels were receiving due attention.
It added that Nigeria’s foreign policy, under President Tinubu’s 4-D agenda—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora engagement—aims to ensure that Nigerians can “travel, work, and live with dignity and respect in any part of the world.”
