The United States Embassy in Nigeria has allegedly begun quietly revoking valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, stranding professionals, entrepreneurs, families, and frequent travelers — and causing widespread disruption to plans, finances, and livelihoods.
The revelation came from Olufemi Soneye, former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, in an article titled “The Quiet Revocation: Why is the U.S. Silently Cancelling Nigerians’ Visas?”
According to Soneye, multiple affected individuals confirmed receiving official letters from the U.S. Embassy in recent weeks, instructing them to submit their passports at consular offices in Lagos or Abuja. Upon submission, their visas were summarily canceled — often without explanation.
The revocation notices cite Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, and vaguely reference “new information” that purportedly came to light after the visa was issued. However, no further details, evidence, or appeals process were provided.
Among those impacted are a well-known journalist, the director of a federal agency scheduled to deliver an international address, and an Abuja-based entrepreneur with a clean travel history. Others include professionals and frequent travelers who depend on their visas for education, medical care, family reunification, and critical business obligations.
In several cases, travelers discovered their visa cancellations only at the airport — some detained briefly by immigration officers before being denied boarding. Many were forced to cancel trips, refund non-refundable tickets, and offer last-minute explanations to international partners and institutions.
Despite the growing number of reports, neither the U.S. Embassy nor Nigerian government officials have issued any public statement on the matter, leaving affected citizens in a state of confusion and uncertainty.
Those impacted insist they have never overstayed their visas, violated immigration laws, or posed any security concerns. The unexplained revocations have sparked fears of a quiet, targeted shift in U.S. visa policy towards Nigerians — raising questions about transparency, due process, and diplomatic accountability.
