By Darley Ogbodo
Following the slamming of additional fee charges on intending Nigerian visitors to the United States of America (U.S),
arising from its reciprocity against Nigeria, on Wednesday, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has moved to decrease visa charges payable by U.S citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the committee set up earlier by federal government.
SHARPEDGENews learnt that the committee set up by federal government 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.
Attempts by our Reporter to get U.S Consulate office to speak on the reversal met dead end.
level.”
Mr. Mohammed Manga, the Director of Press and Publication in the ministry, in a statement made available to SHARPEDGENews, while quoting the minister, said the Comptroller-General (CG), 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 tomorrow Thursday, 29th August.
The statement reads: “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 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.”