President Bola Tinubu has directed all federal agencies involved in consular and immigration matters to strictly verify identities of citizens applying for visas and other consular services abroad.
Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a statement reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic ties with both countries.
The directive follows recent adjustments in visa issuance policies by the Governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates, which have affected Nigerian travelers.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring Nigerians can travel, work, and live with dignity and respect worldwide, in line with his 4-D Foreign Policy Agenda — Defence, Democracy, Development, and Diaspora.
“All relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are to align their operations with international standards, particularly in matters concerning biometric data, identity authentication, and documentation required for foreign travel.
“The U.S. Government officially communicated that the new visa rules affecting Nigerian nationals are part of its global visa reciprocity review and are based on two key concerns: high rates of visa overstays by Nigerians and the need for more dependable access to applicants’ identity records,” Onanuga said.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians abroad to comply with the immigration laws of their host countries and uphold the integrity of the travel documents and privileges granted to them.
On the alleged United Arab Emirates of selective issuance of transit visas to Nigerians, the President said no formal notice has been received from UAE authorities indicating a policy change.
He commended the UAE for its constructive engagement with Nigerian authorities.
“The President appreciates the continued cooperation of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, which has remained constructive and engaged with Nigerian authorities. Any genuine concerns raised are being addressed through the appropriate channels, in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration,” the statement added.
The Federal Government also pledged to continue pursuing outcomes that protect the interests of Nigerian citizens abroad while deepening diplomatic ties with both the United States and the UAE.
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