A wave of shock and anger is sweeping across Nigeria as the United States Embassy is accused of secretly revoking already-issued visas from its citizens, leaving professionals, students, and families stranded and their plans in ruins.
This controversial move, described as a “quiet revocation,” has targeted dozens of Nigerians who received sudden, cryptic letters from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos or Abuja. The letters instructed them to submit their passports, only for their visas to be canceled without a clear explanation or any right to appeal.
The revocation notices vaguely cite a U.S. regulation (Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122), claiming that “new information became available” after the visa was approved. What that “information” is remains a complete mystery, leaving successful and law-abiding citizens in a state of humiliating limbo.
Lives and Livelihoods Disrupted
The impact is devastating and personal. Among those affected are:
· A prominent Nigerian journalist.
· The head of a federal agency who was scheduled to speak at a major international forum.
· An entrepreneur from Abuja with a flawless travel history.
Many only discovered their visa was dead on arrival at the airport—some were even briefly detained by immigration authorities before being publicly turned away from their flights. They’ve been forced to cancel critical business deals, forfeit thousands of dollars on non-refundable tickets, and face the embarrassment of explaining their sudden absence to partners abroad.
As Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., stated, “These are people who have never overstayed their visas, never violated immigration rules, and never raised red flags.”
A Pattern of Targeted Restrictions?
This isn't an isolated incident. It appears to be a sharp escalation of a years-long trend of tightening U.S. visa policies against Nigerians.
This shadowy revocation campaign follows a major policy change in July 2025, where the U.S. State Department slashed standard tourist and business visas for Nigerians from the previous five-year, multiple-entry permits to restrictive three-month, single-entry visas.
Leaked documents from the Trump era previously revealed guidance that encouraged consular officers to broadly flag entire demographics of applicants rather than judging each case on its own merits. Critics fear this practice has not only continued but intensified.
Official Silence and Calls for Action
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja has denied any “retaliatory” measures, hiding behind vague references to “technical and security benchmarks.” However, the total lack of transparency and due process feels arbitrary and unfair.
The Nigerian government has expressed concern but has yet to take strong public action. There are growing calls from citizens and commentators for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge a formal protest and demand immediate answers and accountability.
“This is about more than visas—it’s about fairness, reciprocity, and human dignity,” Soneye emphasized. “Cryptic references to ‘new information’ are not enough between two nations that claim to be partners.”
With Nigeria being a top source of international students for the U.S., these aggressive policies threaten to sever crucial cultural, educational, and economic ties, damaging the relationship between both countries for years to come.
What’s Next?
For now, affected Nigerians remain trapped in a cruel state of uncertainty, their lives put on hold by an opaque decision they can neither understand nor challenge. All eyes are on the Nigerian government to see if it will stand up for its citizens and demand the transparency and respect they deserve.
* Sources: The Guardian Nigeria, Reuters, BBC News, TheCable, NigerianEye