The United States Embassy in Nigeria has responded to reports claiming that it has been revoking visas for some Nigerian citizens without explanation.
A report highlighted that several Nigerians holding US visas, including students, business professionals, and other individuals, received messages instructing them to return their passports to the embassy.
These individuals were informed that their visas had been revoked, with the only explanation being that “new information” had come up, although the embassy did not provide further details on what this information was.
Earlier this year, the US government released a list of countries that were subject to a visa ban, along with other countries facing visa restrictions. However, Nigeria was not included in either of these lists, making the recent revocations especially surprising to those affected.
In response to an inquiry by BBC News Pidgin, a spokesperson from the US Embassy stated that the embassy had the authority to revoke visas but emphasised that they used all available information to take action, aiming to keep US borders secure and protect American communities.
The embassy cited Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which grants the Secretary and Consular Officers the discretion to revoke visas at any time. According to the embassy, this action is taken when there are indications of a potential ineligibility under US immigration law.
The statement further explained that during the Trump Administration, the US government began implementing more stringent measures to protect national security, including visa revocations for individuals who overstay their visa, engage in criminal activity, support terrorism, or violate US laws.
In addition to visa revocations, the US State Department announced earlier this year that it would start reviewing the social media accounts of visa applicants as part of the criteria for visa eligibility.
In June 2025, it was reported that a woman was deported from the US just two hours after arriving because officers found something suspicious while checking her social media accounts. However, it remains unclear whether the recent wave of visa revocations is related to social media activity or other factors.
It is also unclear whether the revocations are specifically targeting Nigerian citizens or if they are part of a wider policy affecting other African countries. According to some long-term US visa holders interviewed by BBC News Pidgin, their visas have not been revoked.
Since Donald Trump began his second term in office, his administration has been implementing strict anti-immigration policies as part of his campaign promises. In August 2025, the US State Department announced that it would review the visas of Nigerian and other foreign nationals to take action against those who violate rules.
Earlier in August, the US government also reduced the validity period for visas granted to citizens from certain African countries, including Nigeria, to just three months. The move was seen as a retaliatory response to Nigeria’s reduction of visa validity for US nationals.
However, the Nigerian government has countered by saying that it still grants five-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens.
The US also revoked the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonian citizens due to the ongoing conflict in their country. This decision left around 8,000 Cameroonians living in the US under the TPS at risk of deportation.