U.S. Allegedly Revoking Valid Visas of Nigerians Without Explanation

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reportedly begun quietly revoking valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, sparking confusion, financial losses, and growing fears of a targeted policy shift.

According to Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, several Nigerians recently received official letters from the U.S. Embassy instructing them to submit their passports at consulates in Lagos or Abuja. Upon submission, their visas were cancelled without further explanation.

The notices cited Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, stating only that “new information became available after the visa was issued.” No additional details, evidence, or right of appeal were provided.

Among those affected are high-profile professionals, including a prominent journalist, the head of a federal government agency scheduled to deliver an international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a long history of compliant travel.

Others caught in the wave of cancellations include students, business executives, and families who depend on U.S. visas for education, medical treatment, reunions, and critical business activities. Some travellers only discovered the cancellations at airports and boarding gates, with a few briefly detained before being turned back.

The revocations have forced many to cancel trips, refund tickets, and abandon international commitments. Despite the widespread impact, neither the U.S. Embassy nor Nigerian authorities have publicly commented on the situation.

Affected citizens maintain they have never overstayed visas, breached immigration rules, or posed security risks. The sudden revocations have therefore raised concerns of a quiet, targeted tightening of U.S. visa policy toward Nigerians.