By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has condemned the recent decision by the United States government to reduce the validity of Nigerian non-immigrant visas from five years to three months.
Noting that the decision might affect diplomatic relations, the House called on the United States Department of State to immediately rescind the decision, as well as make a new visa policy for Nigerians.
The lawmakers also mandated the Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group to communicate the position of the House to the US Congress, State Department and the American Embassy in Nigeria.
These resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary yesterday by Muktar Mohammed.
Speaking in his lead debate for the motion, the lawmaker recalled that the July 8 policy by the US State Department to downgrade Nigeria’s non-immigrant visa validity to a three-month single-entry visa would have far-reaching consequences.
According to him, “The imposed three-month civil entry visa will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, including business constraints, academic disruption and diaspora, and family strain.
“This decision came despite the long-standing strategic and historic relationship between Nigeria and the United States, a relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared democratic values, robust bilateral cooperation and people-to-people engagement.
“This policy undermines decades of goodwill, bilateral cooperation and the sacrifices made by both governments and citizens to deepen mutual understanding, trade, education and cultural exchange,” he added
He recalled that during the recent US Independence Day celebration in Abuja, members of Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group reaffirmed the deep ties between the two countries, noting the vital role of Nigerian immigrants in America’s healthcare, technology, academia, arts, entrepreneurship and public service sectors.
Mohammed also recalled that during recent engagements in Washington D.C, Utah and New York, the group held discussions with US lawmakers and policy institutions on Nigeria’s security challenges, religious profiling and visa restrictions affecting over 200 million law-abiding Nigerians.
He expressed concern that the new visa policy reflects lack of regard for the historical and strategic relationship between both countries, warning that it risks straining diplomatic ties and unfairly punishing Nigerian citizens.
“This House must rise in defense of ordinary Nigerians whose aspirations to study, work or reunite with family in the US now stand threatened,” Mohammed said.
Adopting the motion, the House directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage diplomatically with its US counterpart to safeguard the dignity and mobility of Nigerian citizens.
