Key Points

• US Nigeria visa restrictions remain under diplomatic review.

• Security cooperation guides current travel policies.

• Dialogue continues between Abuja and Washington.

Richard Mills, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, said that the new visa restrictions announced by Washington are meant to make security procedures stronger and are not meant to hurt Nigerians.

Mills made the clarification on Sunday in Abuja at a news conference that was held at the same time as a visit by a US Congressional Delegation to Nigeria. He said that the steps should not be seen as actions against any one country or group of people, but rather as part of a review of global security.

The ambassador said that Nigeria is still an important partner for the United States and that the two countries’ relationship is still based on working together, talking to each other, and sharing security concerns.

Visa review is mostly about security

Mills said that the presidential proclamation, which is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2026, affects some types of visas and is part of a larger effort to keep US borders safe and protect American communities.

He said that the main goal of the review process is to make sure that visa applications are properly checked and that people can get reliable information. He stressed that the goal is to make systems and procedures stronger, not to punish people.

Mills said, “The visa review is not about punishing Nigerians; it is about making sure that the visa process is properly vetted and that the information is reliable.”

He went on to say that these kinds of reviews happen all over the world and aren’t just done in Nigeria. He also said that visa policies are constantly being looked at again because of changing security and administrative needs.

The proclamation lists exceptions and gives advice

The ambassador said that the presidential proclamation makes it clear which types of visas may be affected and which groups are not affected.

He said that people with official or diplomatic passports and people going to the United States for religious work were among those who were exempt. He said that these exemptions show how important it is to keep diplomatic ties and think about people’s needs.

Mills told people who wanted to get a visa and the general public to visit the official website of the US Embassy in Nigeria for the most up-to-date and accurate information about the proclamation, the visa categories that are affected, and the exemptions that apply.

He also told people who had specific questions to use the embassy’s official communication channels to get more information and warned against relying on unofficial sources.

US lawmakers stress working together instead of punishing people

Also at the briefing, Representative Bill Huizenga, who is in charge of the US Congressional Delegation, said that visa reviews and restrictions are normal policy tools that governments use to get people to follow the rules and work together.

Huizenga said that these kinds of actions are mostly aimed at government systems and administrative procedures, not at people. He went on to say that many countries in different parts of the world do the same kinds of reviews.

He said again that the United States values its long-standing relationship with Nigeria and wants to keep strong ties between people.

The US government said again that it would continue to work with Nigeria, even after announcing visa reviews and restrictions, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.