The United States Embassy in Nigeria has quietly started cancelling valid visas issued to some Nigerian citizens.
Many professionals, entrepreneurs, and frequent travellers may have been caught off guard.
They received letters asking them to submit their passports at the consulates in Lagos or Abuja.
Once submitted, their visas were cancelled without warning or explanation.
The embassy cited “new information became available after the visa was issued” under Title 22, Section 41.122 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.
But no evidence was shared. No reason was given. No option for appeal was offered.
Lives Disrupted, Plans Scattered
Among those affected is a well-known journalist, a top government official, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a clean travel record.
Others include students, medical patients, and businesspeople who depend on U.S. visas for critical engagements.
Some had to cancel trips, refund tickets, and explain their absence to foreign partners.
A few only discovered the cancellation at airports, just before boarding.
They were briefly detained by immigration officers and sent back home.
“I was shocked. I’ve never overstayed or broken any rule,” one traveller said.
The silence from both the U.S. Embassy or Nigerian authorities has been all the more perplexing.
Is This a Quiet Policy Shift?
Former NNPC spokesman Olufemi Soneye called it “a quiet revocation” in his article.
He said he reviewed multiple cancellation letters and found no clear reason for the action.
“This is not just about stamps on a passport. These visas are lifelines,” he wrote.
Analysts believe this may be part of a broader U.S. policy shift targeting high-migration countries.
Nigeria has often been flagged in past U.S. immigration reviews.
Documents from previous administrations encouraged consular officers to apply stricter checks to certain nationalities.
Now, many fear this wave of cancellations is a continuation of that practice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded, and citizens are demanding answers.
“If the U.S. has valid reasons, let them say it clearly,” one affected traveller said.
So, should Nigeria demand an official explanation from the U.S. if these reports are true? Do you think visa policies are becoming too arbitrary and selective? Offer an opinion or experience on the matter in the Comments Section.
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