FG, U.S. Embassy partner to educate Nigerians on new visa rules
By Kunle Sanni –
The Federal Government, in partnership with the United States Embassy in Nigeria, has launched a public sensitisation campaign to educate Nigerians about recent changes to U.S. visa regulations.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the initiative during a joint press conference with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., in Abuja on Friday. He said the campaign aims to ensure Nigerian applicants understand and comply with the new visa procedures.
Idris noted that the United States remains one of the most popular destinations for Nigerians, with citizens frequently travelling for education, business, tourism, medical treatment, and family visits.
“Nigeria is globally recognised as a nation of active travellers,” he said. “The U.S. remains one of the most frequented destinations, reflecting the deep and long-standing ties between our two countries. These new visa measures are designed to enhance service delivery and improve efficiency in line with evolving consular demands.”
The minister thanked the U.S. government for engaging directly with the Nigerian public and ensuring that accurate, up-to-date information is widely available. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the United States.
Ambassador Mills stressed that compliance with U.S. visa rules was essential to maintaining mutual trust and respect between the two countries.
“Misusing a visa or providing inaccurate information undermines the trust between our countries,” he warned. “We encourage all applicants to be truthful and abide by the terms of their visas. By doing so, we strengthen the bonds between our nations.”
The ambassador commended the cooperation of Nigerian institutions, including the National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service, and the Presidency, in promoting public awareness. He also urged Nigerians to rely on the U.S. Embassy’s official consular portal for accurate information and prompt responses to inquiries.
