US accused of revoking previously issued visas for Nigerian citizens

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reportedly begun revoking valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, causing major disruptions for professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and families, and creating significant financial and logistical challenges

Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, drew attention to the issue in his article titled ‘The Quiet Revocation: Why Is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?’

According to Soneye, many affected individuals recently received official letters from the embassy instructing them to submit their passports at the Lagos or Abuja consulates. Once submitted, their visas were cancelled without explanation. The notices cited Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, stating only that “new information became available after the visa was issued,” offering no further details, evidence, or appeal options.

Those impacted include a prominent journalist, the head of a federal government agency scheduled to deliver an international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a flawless travel record. Others affected are professionals and frequent travellers relying on visas for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and crucial business engagements.

Many were forced to cancel overseas trips at short notice, refund tickets, and explain to partners why they could no longer attend important meetings. In some cases, travellers only discovered the cancellations at airports, with a few briefly detained by immigration officials before being turned back.

Despite the growing concern, neither the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria nor Nigerian authorities have issued an official statement addressing the wave of cancellations, leaving affected citizens in uncertainty.

Those impacted insist they have never overstayed visas, violated immigration rules, or posed security risks. The sudden revocations have sparked fears of a targeted tightening of U.S. visa policy against Nigerians.

Analysts note that applicants from high-migration countries, including Nigeria, have historically faced increased scrutiny. Policy documents from previous U.S. administrations encouraged consular officers to apply stricter review standards to certain nationalities, raising concerns that the current wave of cancellations may be a continuation of this practice.

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