Ken Okeke
The United States of America has outrightly denied the reason given by Nigeria on why it restricted the country’s visa to Nigerians.
The US Mission in Nigeria said: “The U.S. Mission Nigeria wishes to address misconceptions about the recent reduction in visa validity for most nonimmigrant U.S. visas in Nigeria and other countries.
“This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS.
“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.
“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had said it was because of Nigeria’s refusal to accept Venezuelan deportees from the US.
Tuggar had said on a Channels Television programme: “Politics Today,” on Tuesday: “The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in the BRICS meeting.
“You have to also bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons.
“It would be difficult for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria.
“We have enough problems of our own; we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria.
“We already have 230 million people.”