By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The United States has quietly begun cancelling visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, leaving professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and families stranded with cancelled plans and financial losses.
Former NNPC Ltd. spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, revealed the development in an article titled “The Quiet Revocation: Why is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?”
He explained that those affected were directed to submit their passports at the U.S. consulates in Lagos and Abuja, where their visas were subsequently annulled without explanation.
The cancellation notices, issued under Title 22 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, vaguely stated that “new information became available after the visa was issued.” No supporting evidence or appeal process was provided.
Among those impacted are a journalist, the head of a government agency scheduled to attend an international event, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a clean travel history. Many others rely on U.S. visas for education, business, medical treatment, and family reunions.
Some travellers discovered the cancellations only at airports, with a few briefly detained before being denied boarding. Many were forced to abandon trips, refund tickets, and cancel important meetings abroad.
So far, neither the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria nor the Nigerian government has issued an official statement.
Analysts suggest the move could signal a stricter U.S. visa policy targeting Nigerians, consistent with past directives that imposed heightened scrutiny on applicants from high-migration countries.
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