Nothing has been heard from the Nigerian government following the widely reported cancellation of visas granted the country’s citizens by the United States Embassy.
The former spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum
Company Limited, Olufemi Soneye, in a recent article released on Premium Times,
raised an alarm over what he described as ‘quiet revocations of visas for
Nigerians by the US Embassy’.
In his publication titled, ‘The quiet revocation: Why is the
US embassy silently canceling Nigerians’ visas?, Soneye alleged that Nigerian
citizens, including professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travellers, and
families, are stranded in the US Embassy, which revoked their valid visas.
Soneye said several affected individuals had confirmed
receiving official letters from the embassy in recent weeks, instructing them
to submit their passports at the consulate in Lagos or Abuja. Unfortunately for
them, upon submission of their passports, their visas were cancelled without
explanation.
He said in the cancellation notices the embassy cited Title
22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, which stated that “new
information became available after the visa was issued,” but provided no
details, evidence, or avenues for appeal.
He noted that among those impacted are a prominent
journalist, the head of a federal government agency scheduled to deliver an
international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a spotless travel
record.
Others include professionals and frequent travellers, who
rely on visas for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and critical
business engagements.
“Beyond that, nothing is explained. No evidence is shared.
No avenue for appeal is offered. Recipients are merely advised to reapply if
they wish – an instruction that provides no comfort to those suddenly stripped
of their mobility,” he stated.
However, Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry has yet to
respond to the situation as of the time of filing the report.
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