The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said the recent visa restrictions announced by the U.S. government are not targeted at Nigerians but are aimed at strengthening security procedures.
Mills made the clarification at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja during the visit of a United States Congressional Delegation to Nigeria.
He explained that the presidential proclamation, which will take effect from January 1, 2026, and affects certain visa categories, 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.
According to him, the proclamation clearly outlines the visa categories that may be affected and also provides exemptions for specific groups.
He listed those exempted to include holders of official and diplomatic passports, as well as individuals travelling for religious engagements.
The ambassador advised visa applicants and members of the public to consult the official website of the U.S. Embassy for detailed information on the proclamation, affected visa categories and applicable exemptions.
He also urged applicants with specific concerns to make use of 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 encourage compliance and cooperation, rather than punitive actions against citizens.
Huizenga noted that such measures were largely focused on government systems and processes, not on the Nigerian people, adding that similar reviews were conducted in many parts of the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the U.S. government had reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining strong people-to-people relations with Nigeria while announcing the visa reviews and restrictions.
It described the measures as part of a broader engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation while addressing shared security concerns.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that President Donald Trump, on December 16, announced expanded entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
