Update: Nigeria slashes visa fees for US citizens

Barely 24 hours after the US authorities increased the cost of visa application for Nigerians under a tit for tat policy, FG has announced a reduction in the amount payable by citizens of the U.S seeking Nigerian visas.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said the FG has approved a reduction in visa charges payable by United States citizens from $180 to $150.

In a statement, the US consulate in Nigeria had said America was “reciprocating” the extra visa fee the Nigerian government charges its citizens. The consulate had explained that the extra cost would be applicable to only those whose visa requests were granted.

It had said while America charges Nigerians $160  for visa application, its citizens seeking Nigerian visa were paying $110 extra. The U.S. State Department said the visa fees were increased after 18 months of consultation with the Nigerian government, to make its visa fees for Americans proportional, failed.