The sudden discontinuation of the drop box service was an unpleasant surprise for thousands of Nigerians who were hoping to renew their U.S. visas without any hassles.
The drop box option, which was once a simple procedure that let qualified applicants renew visas without having to appear in person for an interview, was covertly eliminated over the weekend, which caused anxiety and annoyance among tourists.
The Federal Government is now taking over. Oluwole Oke, the chairman of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, has promised Nigerians that the matter will be handled diplomatically.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Oke stated that he will personally speak with U.S. and Nigerian officials to get clarification on the situation.
“I will bring up this issue while I’m in the United States. I’m going to Washington after my meetings in New York to talk with our chargé d’affaires and other pertinent parties,” Oke said.
Oke minimized the decision, highlighting the diplomatic principle of reciprocity, even if many Nigerians saw the suspension as a setback. He asserted that the U.S. government had the authority to change its visa regulations, just as Nigeria does.
“There is no crisis here. Nigerians were permitted to use the drop box system at their own discretion by the United States. It’s interesting to note that when Americans renew their Nigerian visas, Nigeria does not grant them the same benefit.
For many years, Americans were only given one-year Nigerian visas, but Nigerians were given two-year visas by the United States. According to Oke, Nigeria didn’t change its policy to match the United States’, granting Americans five-year visas, until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined office.
Unfortunately, they came to this conclusion. I contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he confirmed that the U.S. had not sent any official word about the change,” he continued.
Notwithstanding the setback, Oke emphasized Nigeria’s importance on the international scene and voiced hope that the US government would reevaluate some of its regulations impacting Nigerian tourists.
Nigeria is a major actor in world politics. No nation can afford to overlook us. Believe me, we are a great asset. The world is watching, and I think constructive diplomatic efforts will pay off.
Many people praised the drop box system for making visa renewals easier, especially for people who had just traveled to the United States. All applicants, including those renewing their visas, would again have to appear in person for interviews after it was suspended. This could result in longer wait periods and make travel more difficult for many Nigerians.
