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Nigeria has reduced the visa fee payable by United States citizens to obtain a Nigerian visa.
A statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola approved “the reduction of visa charges payable by US citizens in line with reciprocity policy.”
Newspeakonline recall that the United States Embassy in Nigeria had on Tuesday said effective from Thursday, August , 29 , 2019, Nigerians applying for tourism, student and business visas will pay an additional $110 (N40, 700) to collect their visa if they are granted. This would be in addition to the N59, 200 visa application fee.
The embassy had stated that the hike was in reciprocation to the fact that Americans seeking to come into Nigeria were being asked to pay exorbitant visa fees by the Nigerian government. It said it took the decision after all efforts to make the federal government reduce its own fees proved abortive.
However, the Federal Ministry of Interior said “attention of the Ministry of Interior has been drawn to the introduction of reciprocity of visa fees by the United States of America. The ministry acknowledges that there were engagements with the United States Embassy on the issue and in the aftermath, a committee was set up to conduct due diligence in line with the ministry’s extant policy on reciprocity of visa fees.”
The statement further stated that the delay in the implementation of the committee’s recommendations was due to a transition at decision-making level of the ministry.
“The committee had concluded its assignment and submitted a report but the issuance of authorisation for its recommendations was delayed due to transition processes in the Ministry at the policy level.
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the decrease of visa charges payable by US citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the Committee,” the statement added.
The statement disclosed that the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the reduction in Nigeria’s visa charges to US citizens with effect from Thursday, August 29, 2019.