Visa War: Buhari Bows To Trump

By Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has bowed to President Donald Trump’s reciprocity charge and ordered an immediate reduction of charges to United States citizens seeking Nigeria’s entry visa.

The Nigerian government action effective Thursday followed the decision of the United States embassy in Nigeria to charge a $110 reciprocity charge for visas issued to Nigerian citizens.

The reciprocity charge followed failures by the Nigerian government to respond to supplications from the United States administration to reduce the visa charge on United States citizens seeking Nigeria visa.

The Trump administration had on inception vowed to treat countries the way the countries treat the United States.

President Trump in the executive order issued to that effect had said:

“If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking non-immigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable.”

Pursuant to that effect, the United States embassy had announced the immediate implementation of the reciprocity charge with effect from Thursday, August 28, 2019.

Responding on Wednesday, the Buhari administration through the newly appointed minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a statement said that the process of scaling down the charges had been weighed down by the transition process within the Buhari administration.

In the statement issued by Mohammed Manga, Director (Press & Public Relations) in the ministry, the government 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.

“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”.

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG