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U.S. Updates Visa Reciprocity Policy For Nigeria

You can view the latest information on visa reciprocity schedules for all countries at travel.state.gov.U.S.

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• Donald Trump

The United States Department of State has announced updates to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy, impacting several countries, including Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, United States Embassy, Abuja, said that effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.

Said the statement: ” Those U.S. non-immigrant visas issued prior to July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity.

We wish to underscore, that as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.

You can view the latest information on visa reciprocity schedules for all countries at travel.state.gov.U.S.

Visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of U.S. immigration systems.

These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks.

The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria.

Examples of standard criteria include:Secure

Travel Documents: Ensuring countries issue secure travel documents with verified traveler identities.

Visa Overstay Management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travelers on U.S. visas.Information Sharing:

Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety.

The United States values its longstanding relationship with Nigeria and remains committed to expanding our partnership based on mutual respect, shared security priorities, and economic opportunity, keeping both our countries safer and stronger.

We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices.

We continue to engage with Nigerian government officials to address the remaining challenges.

Nigerian travelers are encouraged to respect and adhere to the terms of their visas, and ensure travel documents are authentic, accurate, and up to date.

The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria via business, educational, and cultural exchanges.

We look forward to continued cooperation at all levels with the Nigerian public and government officials to ensure safe and lawful travel between the United States and all countries.”

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Court to Decide on Motion to Restrain NASS from Ibas’ Budget

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, fixed July 18 for ruling on a motion seeking to restrain the National Assembly from approving budgets or appointments of the Rivers State Government under the current Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).

Ibas was appointed as Rivers’ Sole Administrator by President Bola Tinubu following the six-month suspension of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after counsel for the applicants, Ambrose Owuru, and the defence lawyer, Mohammed Galadima, presented their arguments for and against the motion for interlocutory injunction.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1190/2025, was instituted by some indigenes of Rivers and a group, the Registered Trustees of Hope Africa Foundation.

Other plaintiffs are King Oziwe Amba, Chief Julius Bulous, Chief George Ikeme, Chief Amachelu Orlu and Prince Odioha Wembe.

They had dragged the National Assembly and the Clerk of the National Assembly to court as 1st and 2nd defendants.

The applicants sought “an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants “from further interference, approving, supporting and engaging in any legislative activities, including approving, appointing or budgets of Rivers State Government.”

They argued that this was in furtherance of the alleged illegalities and unconstitutionally forwarded proposed state budget by Ibas, “arising from the unconstitutionally prohibited ‘voice vote’ not provided for under the constitution pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit by this honourable court.”

NAN observes that while the main suit was filed on June 19, the motion for interlocutory injunction was filed on June 24.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Owuru, while arguing the motion, prayed the court to restrain the defendants from further acting on any requests from the emergency government in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Owuru contended that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers was without the required legislative approval because the voice votes adopted by the National Assembly in approving the emergency rule were unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs stated, in a supporting affidavit, that since they filed the suit, the activities of the defendants “have centred on approvals of illegal appointments and budget made and forwarded by the illegal administrator foisted on the applicants’ Rivers State in the midst of protests and rising restiveness in the state.“

The respondents, in spite of all the illegality and unconstitutionality of the foisted state of emergency on Rivers outside the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution prohibiting state of emergency in any part of the federation, failed to invite or request such within a reasonable time.

”The respondents have engaged in constituting committees to run and spend funds of the applicants’ Rivers.”

They said, unless the court grants their application, the defendants would continue in “the illegalities and unconstitutionality of their invented ‘voice votes’ in place of the actual constitutionally approved two third votes to support the state of emergency in Rivers State.”

According to them, the grant of this application will protect and preserve the applicants’ legal rights to be governed by an elected government of their choice in the present democratic setting in Nigeria.

In his counterargument, lawyer to the National Assembly and its clerk, Galadima, urged the court to reject the motion for interlocutory injunction, arguing that it was without merit.

In the affidavit filed by the defendants, they argued that the facts deposed to in the plaintiffs’ supporting affidavit to the motion “are contrived falsehood and calculated misrepresentation of the facts as they occurred.”

They argued that there had never been any illegality in their actions and that there is no breach of the constitution as alleged by the applicants.

The defendants also faulted the plaintiffs’ claim that the emergency rule was a violation of their fundamental rights to be governed by a democratically elected government.

The National Assembly and its Clerk said they would be seriously prejudiced by the grant of the motion as it would create pandemonium and confusion in governance in Rivers.

They added that the grant of the motion would not be in the interest of justice.Justice Omotosho fixed July 18 for the ruling.

NAN reports that the Senate had, on June 25, passed the 2025 budget of Rivers, totaling ₦1.485 trillion, following the third reading of the appropriation bill on the floor.

NAN

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Breaking: Ganduje appointed chairman of FAAN board

Ganduje recently resigned  as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on health reasons.

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Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Ganduje recently resigned  as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on health reasons.

The announcement was made during the formal inauguration of newly appointed FAAN board members in Abuja.

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FG unveils special passport office for top officials to eliminate delays

Tunji-Ojo applauded the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and commended the collaboration with Iris Smart Technologies, which provided the digital infrastructure for the new front office.

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The Federal Government has commissioned a specialised Passport Front Office dedicated exclusively to senior public officers and other designated dignitaries, in a bold move to streamline travel documentation for Nigeria’s top government officials.

The facility, unveiled in Abuja by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, is designed to eliminate longstanding delays and inefficiencies that have plagued passport processing for high-ranking officials.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Tunji-Ojo highlighted the challenges previously faced by top government personnel, many of whom were forced to abandon official duties to queue for hours at standard passport centres.

“Before now, many top-level public servants had to abandon their official duties and endure long queues at standard passport offices.”

“It became clear that for us to serve the nation more effectively, we must also serve those tasked with its leadership more efficiently”, the Minister said.

Tunji-Ojo applauded the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and commended the collaboration with Iris Smart Technologies, which provided the digital infrastructure for the new front office.

He said that the facility represents a new benchmark in excellence and is expected to significantly cut waiting times, improve access, and raise the overall quality of passport service delivery.

(BusinessDay)

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