Nigeria to Impose Reciprocal Visa Measures After US Mandates Social Media Disclosure

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to introduce reciprocal measures following the United States’ decision to compel Nigerian visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts and online activities spanning the past five years.

The new American policy, recently communicated through the US Mission in Nigeria, requires applicants to provide comprehensive details including all usernames, handles, email addresses, and phone numbers linked to various platforms within the stated period. The Mission further warned that omissions could result in visa denial or permanent ineligibility.

US Justifies New Visa Rule

In its statement, the US Mission clarified that applicants must fill out the DS-160 visa application form with accurate and verifiable information about their digital footprint.

“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future U.S visas.”

It added that applicants must enter details connected to their online presence, covering social media platforms, communication applications, websites, and other digital collaboration tools.

The announcement comes amid tighter US immigration controls, with reports indicating that the US State Department has revoked over 6,000 student visas since Secretary of State Marco Rubio assumed office seven months ago, citing infractions and security concerns.

Nigeria Promises Reciprocal Action

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the government had been briefed ahead of the policy rollout and would respond in kind.

“We are aware of the development. It’s part of the new measures they informed us about before now. On issues of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a Nigerian visa, and we will adopt the same measures. Anything visa is reciprocal. What you are mandating our nationals to do, we will also mandate your citizens applying for our visa to do,” Ebienfa stated.

He further disclosed that the government will convene an inter-agency meeting involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to decide on the most effective response.

“The government will have an inclusive meeting that will involve key stakeholders to agree on our best way to respond holistically,” he added.

Broader Implications

The US decision has stirred widespread reactions among Nigerians, with many expressing concerns that the new visa regulation could further complicate the already rigorous process of obtaining American visas. For students, professionals, and frequent travellers, the measure introduces an additional layer of scrutiny that critics say may be used to arbitrarily restrict visa approvals.

Diplomatic analysts, however, observe that reciprocal action by Nigeria is a standard practice in international relations, aimed at preserving national dignity and ensuring fair treatment of citizens abroad.

As both countries weigh their positions, the unfolding visa policy debate highlights the growing influence of digital footprints in global security assessments, with governments increasingly viewing social media activity as a key metric in evaluating visa applicants.

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