The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to engage with the United States government to address the recent suspension of the drop box service for Nigerians renewing their US visas.
Chairman of the **House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, stated on Monday that he would personally take up the matter during his meetings in New York and Washington, D.C.
“I am in the United States, and after my meetings in New York, I will head to Washington to discuss this issue with our chargé d’affaires,” Oke said.
Oke explained that the suspension is not a major issue, as Nigeria does not offer drop box services to Americans renewing Nigerian visas.
“It is the prerogative of the United States to cancel the drop box procedure for Nigerians. In diplomacy, there is a principle of reciprocity,” he noted.
He also pointed out that until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, the US only issued two-year visas to Nigerians, while Nigeria issued one-year visas to Americans. However, Tinubu later directed the Minister of Interior to
implement a five-year visa policy in response to the US extending visas to five years for Nigerians.
Oke revealed that he had contacted Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who confirmed that no official communication had been received from the US regarding the drop box suspension.
This development comes amid a strict immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s second term, which began on January 20, 2025. The administration has launched mass deportation raids at homes, workplaces, schools, and shopping
centers, targeting undocumented immigrants.
– As of 2015, an estimated 376,000 Nigerians were living in the United States.
– Nigeria is the largest source of African immigration to the US.
– Nigerian immigrants contribute significantly to the diaspora remittances, which exceeded $20 billion in 2023, according to the World Bank.
Oke expressed optimism that diplomatic engagements would yield positive results. He emphasized that Nigeria remains a key global player and that no nation would want to ignore its
strategic importance.
