The Federal Government of Nigeria has vowed to retaliate to a new visa policy introduced by the United States government.
This policy, which recently took effect, requires Nigerian applicants to disclose all social media handles used in the past five years.
Details of the US Visa Policy
According to the US Mission in Nigeria, every applicant must list their social media usernames on the DS-160 visa application form.
The Mission explained that applicants must certify the accuracy of this information before submission. Failure to comply could lead to visa denial or ineligibility for future US visas.
“Applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles from the last five years.
Omitting this information could result in visa denials and future bans,” the Mission stated.
Nigeria’s Reaction to the Policy
Reacting to the development, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the government was already aware of the new regulation.
“We are aware of the development. I think it’s part of the new measures they informed us before now,” Ebienfa said.
He stressed that Nigeria would adopt a reciprocal policy:
“On matters like this, the best response is reciprocity. If US citizens apply for Nigerian visas, we will require the same information they demand from our nationals.”
Plans for an Inter-Agency Meeting
To determine its official response, the Nigerian government plans to convene an inter-agency meeting.
The meeting will involve key stakeholders, including:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The Ministry of Interior
- The National Intelligence Agency
“The stakeholders involved will meet and decide the best way to respond holistically,” Ebienfa explained.
Reciprocity in Visa Regulations
Visa policies are often based on reciprocity, meaning countries impose similar measures on one another.
Since the United States has introduced stricter requirements for Nigerians, the Federal Government of Nigeria is expected to apply the same rules to Americans seeking entry.
Officials argue that this approach will protect national interests and maintain fairness in diplomatic relations.
What Nigerians Should Expect
As these new US visa rules take effect, Nigerian applicants may face longer processing times due to additional background checks.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has reassured its citizens that a unified response will soon be announced.
The move, they say, will uphold both national sovereignty and the principle of reciprocity.
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