U.S. defends Visa cancellations, cites border security, safety concerns
The United States government has moved to defend the mass cancellation of visas held by Nigerians with valid travel documents, insisting the action was necessary to secure its borders and protect its citizens.
The clarification comes on the heels of mounting outrage after reports indicated that scores of Nigerians, among them students, business professionals, frequent travellers, and families had their visas abruptly revoked without warning.
Former NNPC spokesperson, Femi Soneye, first raised the alarm, disclosing that affected Nigerians received formal letters instructing them to submit their passports at U.S. consulates in Lagos or Abuja, only to have their visas cancelled.
Responding to the backlash, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria told BBC News Pidgin that the decision was in line with the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which empowers consular officers to revoke visas at any time if there is evidence of “potential ineligibility.”
“We use all the information we get to do this on a scale never seen before, in order to keep American borders secure and American communities safe,” the embassy stated, citing Section 221(i) of the INA.
It added that visas may be cancelled if holders overstay their lawful period of admission, engage in criminal activity, support terrorist organisations, or otherwise violate U.S. laws.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria yesterday issued a fresh security alert, advising its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to military and government facilities, particularly in Abuja, due to “continued security concerns.”
The advisory urged Americans in Nigeria to avoid large gatherings, review personal security plans, and remain vigilant in public spaces, especially at venues frequented by expatriates and government officials.
The latest warning, dated September 2, 2025, follows a series of similar advisories earlier in the year, including alerts after an explosion near Mogadishu Barracks in May and security incidents around the Abuja National Mosque in March.
The embassy stressed that restrictions on visits to military and government facilities remain in force for U.S. Mission staff and citizens, except for approved official duties.
