FG makes U-turn, reduces visa charges for US citizens

Rauf Aregbesola
Aregbesola

The Federal Government has decreased visa charges payable by US citizens applying for Nigerian visa.

This comes after the US embassy in Nigeria announced on Tuesday that it had increased fees for Nigerians applying for tourism, student and business visas.

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A statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, acknowledged that there were talks with the US embassy on reducing visa fees for Americans trying to enter Nigeria.

The statement said: “The attention of the Ministry of Interior has been drawn to the introduction of reciprocity of Visa Fees by the United States of America.

“The Ministry acknowledges that there were engagements with the United States Embassy on the issue and in the aftermath, a Committee was set up to conduct due diligence in line with the Ministry’s extant policy on reciprocity of Visa fees.

“The Committee had concluded its assignment and submitted a Report but the issuance of authorisation for its recommendations was delayed due to transition processes in the Ministry at the policy level.

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“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the decrease of Visa charges payable by US citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the Committee.

“Accordingly, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s Visa charges to US Citizens with effect from Thursday, 29th August, 2019.”