The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has explained that the recent visa restrictions announced by the U.S. government are aimed at strengthening security procedures and are not targeted at Nigerians.
Mills made the clarification on Sunday in Abuja at a news conference held during the visit of a United States Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Nigeria.
According to him, the presidential proclamation, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, affects certain visa categories and forms part of broader efforts to secure U.S. borders and protect American communities.
“The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and credible information in the visa process, not on penalising Nigerians,” Mills said.
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The ambassador noted that the proclamation clearly outlines the visa categories that may be affected and also specifies exemptions for some groups.He said the exemptions include holders of official and diplomatic passports, as well as individuals travelling for religious purposes.
Mills advised visa applicants and members of the public to visit the U.S. Embassy’s official website for comprehensive details on the proclamation, affected visa categories, and applicable exemptions.
He also urged those with specific concerns to use the designated communication channels provided by the embassy for further clarification.
Also speaking, the leader of the U.S. Congressional Delegation, Rep. Bill Huizenga, said visa reviews and restrictions were routine measures used to promote compliance and cooperation, rather than punitive actions against citizens.
Huizenga explained that such measures focus mainly on government systems and processes, not on the Nigerian people, adding that similar reviews are regularly conducted in other parts of the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the U.S. government reaffirmed its commitment to strong people-to-people relations with Nigeria while announcing the visa reviews and restrictions.
It described the measures as part of broader engagement efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address shared security concerns.(NAN)
