The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has assured Nigerians that the newly announced U.S. visa restrictions are not intended to punish citizens of the country but to improve security and vetting processes.
Mills gave the clarification on Sunday in Abuja during a news conference held as part of a visit by a United States Congressional Delegation to Nigeria.
According to the ambassador, the measures stem from a presidential proclamation scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, and apply only to specific visa categories as part of broader efforts to strengthen U.S. border security.
“The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and the availability of credible information in the visa process, not on penalising Nigerians,” Mills said.
He explained that the proclamation clearly outlines the categories of visas that may be affected, as well as exemptions granted to certain groups. These exemptions, he noted, include holders of diplomatic and official passports, along with individuals travelling for religious-related engagements.
Mills advised Nigerians seeking clarity on the policy to rely on official sources, urging prospective applicants to consult the U.S. Embassy’s website for accurate details on affected visa classes and exemptions.
“Anyone with specific questions should use the designated communication channels provided by the embassy to get the correct guidance,” he added.
Also speaking at the briefing, the leader of the U.S. Congressional Delegation, Representative Bill Huizenga, described visa restrictions as standard diplomatic tools used globally to promote cooperation and compliance, rather than as punitive actions against citizens.
“These reviews are largely about government systems and processes, not about targeting people,” Huizenga said, adding that similar measures are routinely applied to countries around the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the U.S. government has reiterated its commitment to strong people-to-people relations with Nigeria, despite the introduction of the visa reviews, which it described as part of ongoing bilateral engagement on shared security concerns.
Recall that on December 16, U.S. President Donald Trump announced expanded entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing persistent shortcomings in screening, vetting, and information-sharing processes that pose risks to U.S. national security and public safety.
