FG Vows to Retaliate Against US Over Social Media Visa Policy

The Federal Government has declared it will retaliate against the United States’ new visa policy, which requires Nigerian applicants to submit details of their social media activities spanning the last five years.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced the development on its official X handle, stressing that failure to provide the required information could result in visa denial or permanent ineligibility for future entry. Under the updated rule, applicants must disclose all usernames, handles, email addresses, and phone numbers linked to social media and online platforms used within the past five years. Multiple accounts or aliases must also be listed on the DS-160 visa application form.

“Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future U.S. visas,” the Mission stated, adding that the measure aligns with Washington’s broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.

Reacting to the policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Nigeria would enforce similar requirements for Americans seeking entry visas. Spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said the government was notified ahead of the announcement and will adopt reciprocal measures in line with global diplomatic practice. “Anything visa is reciprocal. What you are mandating our nationals to do, we will also mandate your citizens applying for our visa to do,” Ebienfa said.

He explained that the Federal Government will convene an inter-agency meeting involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to finalise Nigeria’s official response.

The new visa rule comes amid a wave of tighter U.S. immigration policies. In recent months, Washington has revoked over 6,000 student visas, citing violations ranging from overstays to criminal offences. Additionally, new guidelines for naturalisation applicants now require immigration officers to assess an individual’s “good moral character” beyond criminal records, considering factors such as community involvement, employment, and tax compliance.

Nigerians have also faced other restrictions in recent years. The U.S. previously limited most non-diplomatic visas for Nigerian applicants to single-entry, three-month validity, citing concerns over overstays and reciprocity. The U.S. State Department has defended these measures, insisting they are designed to “protect the integrity of U.S. immigration systems.”

With Abuja now preparing a firm response, diplomatic watchers warn that visa applications on both sides may become significantly more difficult in the coming months.