The Federal Government of Nigeria will press the appropriate diplomatic buttons and liaise with the appropriate authorities to resolve the suspension of the drop box provision for Nigerians renewing their American visas.
“I am the US (United States). I will take this matter up. After finishing my meeting in New York here, I will be in Washington as well. We have chargé d’affaires there. I will take this matter up with him and see how we can navigate and resolve the issues,” Oke said.
The drop box system, which enabled applicants with recent US travel history to submit their passports without attending interviews, significantly reduced wait times.
However, last weekend, visa applicants began raising concerns that the US had suspended the visa drop box service in Nigeria. As a result, all visitor visa applicants now have to attend in-person interviews for renewals.
This change comes amid a broader crackdown on migrants under the Donald Trump administration.
The lawmaker said the suspension of the service by the US was not a serious issue as Nigeria does not offer the same service to Americans renewing their Nigerian visas.
Oke said he had reached out to the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and he told him that Nigeria has not received any communication correspondence from the United States of America regarding the drop box service suspension.
The lawmaker said, “I don’t think there is any serious issue here. It is the prerogative of the United States to cancel the drop box procedure for renewing visas for Nigerians. There is a principle of reciprocity in the diplomatic arena.
“As regards visa renewal, that’s not what we offer Americans in the United States, that’s not what our consulates when Americans or Nigerians born in America want to renew their visas, we don’t offer them drop box. That they offered us a drop box, I think it was entirely their prerogative.
“For example, until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, the American government was issuing Nigerians visas for two years, we were issuing them one year. Later, they moved to issuing visas for five years but we were issuing them for one year until President Bola Tinubu came on board and directed the Minister of Interior to reciprocate.
“Unfortunately, it is their prerogative, it is their decision. I contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs if he had any information regarding this and he told me clearly that he is not in receipt of any communication correspondence from the United States of America regarding this issue.”
Oke also expressed hope that the Trump administration would review some of its policies, as he believes the US wouldn’t want to alienate itself from important nations like Nigeria.
“Nigeria is such a crucial country in the global community that no nation would want to ignore us. Take it from me, we are an asset that the world is eager to tap into. I am optimistic that we will benefit, moving forward, from President Donald Trump’s actions,” he said.
Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, has vowed to carry out mass deportations of “criminal aliens” who entered the United States illegally. Mass raids have already taken place at homes, schools, workplaces, and shopping centers, leading to the deportation of undocumented immigrants to countries like India and Guatemala, among others.
Trump’s immigration policies have sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding his approach while others criticize it.
As of 2015, approximately 376,000 Nigerian immigrants reside in the United States, making Nigeria the largest source of African immigration to the country. The United States remains one of the top destinations for Nigerian youths and the middle class seeking better opportunities. Nigerians in America contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy, with remittances totaling over $20 billion annually, according to 2023 data from the World Bank.
