BREAKING: After U.S Retaliation, Nigeria Reduces Visa Fee For American Citizens

The Federal Government has reduced the amount payable by American citizens for Nigerian visa.

This is coming 24 hours after the U.S Embassy in Abuja announced a hike in the amount payable by Nigerians for U.S visa application.

The U.S Embassy had said its decision to hike its visa fee for Nigerians was in retaliation to the extra charges billed its citizens for visa by the Nigerian Government.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has in response announced a reduction in Nigerian visa fee for Americans.

Aregbesola made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.

 “The 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 read.

“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.

“Accordingly, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s Visa charges to US Citizens with effect from Thursday, 29th August, 2019.”