The Federal Government has promised to implement stricter visa requirements on Americans in reciprocity for their latest policies against Nigerian visa applicants.
It would be recalled that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria this week requested all Nigerian visa applicants to henceforth provide details of the social media accounts, phone numbers, email addresses, and usernames they have used in the last five years.
The mission stressed that this new requirement is very important and failure to meet up could lead to visa denial or entry restrictions.
America had earlier made it mandatory for Nigerians seeking to study in America to list their social media accounts and set their privacy to public to allow scrutiny.
The U.S. said at the time that it was part of broader immigration policies aimed at strengthening national security.
The latest rule announced via the US Mission’s X handle builds on that policy.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it was pre-informed of the policy. The ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, nonetheless, Nigeria would respond with equal action.
Ebienfa revealed that American citizens applying for Nigerian visas will now also be requested to meet the same requirements.
He explained that visa matters are reciprocal, meaning that whatever conditions America placed on Nigerians would be placed on American citizens, as well.
Ebienfa also said an inter-agency meeting would be convened to further discuss the issue.
