From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, New York
At a high-level roundtable during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, addressed the challenges faced by Nigerian citizens in obtaining U.S. visas. Speaking at an event focused on sustainable investments and organized by multiple international bodies, Endoni highlighted the stringent conditions imposed by the U.S. on Nigerian visa applicants.
Endoni acknowledged the recent extension of U.S. tourist visa validity for Nigerians from two to five years but urged further improvements, particularly in reducing the lengthy wait times for visa interviews, which can currently extend up to three years.
He called for reciprocal measures from both nations to ease travel restrictions and enhance bilateral relations.
Endoni said: “The visas as mentioned by Her Excellency (former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders), we just want to urge that while efforts are underway for reciprocal, bilateral measures, that from the point of view of Nigeria, we are willing to adhere to the provided policies and the recommendations.
“We are also urging that from the point of view of the US, the restrictions and the conditions that are passed should also be considered because some of them seem to be very stringent.
“Just to mention that, while we appreciate the current efforts, including the fact that the two yearly visa regime has been increased to five years now but we are also urging that efforts are made to also ensure that the period for interviews are also reduced because right now, if you are applying for US visa today, they will give you interview date for three years which is not very encouraging.”
In response, Sanders, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria from 2007 to 2010, at the event also commented on the issue, noting that visa processing delays are a global challenge due to capacity constraints, not specific to Nigeria.
“I just wanted to say on the visa portion in terms of the wait time because is like a hugh issue. I just wanted to explain that sometime is based on the demand capacity to be able to execute. So we address that issue.
The wait times are involved and I will say that Nigeria is not the only country facing that unfortunate issue. And I will say that on the reverse side, the wait time for me to get a Nigerian visa is equally as long. And so it’s just tough, and it’s not meant to be an obstacle, intentionally. It’s just a capacity issue that we have worldwide.”
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria recently announced a transition to a new visa service provider to streamline processes. This shift aims to address some of the backlog issues and improve service efficiency for applicants.
Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Merited Negotiating Consulting and Director General of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff, emphasised Nigeria’s strategic importance as an investment destination during the UNGA side event in New York.
Highlighting Nigeria’s status as Africa’s most populous nation and its largest market, Yusuff underscored the country’s potential for development interventions that could significantly impact the global black population.
He noted that Nigeria’s economic liberalization efforts have established it as a hub for both domestic and international investors, particularly in West and Central Africa.
He stressed the importance of global partnerships built on familiarity, likability, and trust, asserting that these relationships are key to fostering sustainable investments and accessing grants for national development.
He said: “I also want to take this moment to highlight Nigeria potential as a strategic investment destination for all investors around the globe. With the largest population and our biggest market in Africa, Nigeria offered a unique opportunity for development intervention. The government’s both economic liberation efforts have positioned the country as a Liberty hub for both domestic and international investors, particularly in the West and Central Africa. Further any development intervention that advance in Nigeria, step toward achieving 20% of the global black population. In this spirit of in the spirit of global partnership, we remember that we do business on the point of global partnership. We do business with those you know, those you like, and those you trust.
“We are here this afternoon because we know each other, we like each other, and this round table will serve as a platform to build with trust for sustainable investment, Grant, accessibility, intervention, support for the greater development of our nation.”
The roundtable event aimed to serve as a platform for building trust among global partners, facilitating sustainable investment opportunities, and supporting interventions that contribute to Nigeria’s growth.
