The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a public statement on the requirement that Nigerians should use their United States (US) visas effectively and in line with the stated purpose of visit. The agency warned that abuse of visas will carry serious consequences, including cancellation, deportation, or permanent exclusion from travelling.
In a statement released in Abuja, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Onilu emphasized that US officials continue to monitor visa holders once they have entered the country. “Security screening doesn’t end at the issuance of visa. The US monitors visitors’ activities, and any violation of immigration law will see the visa revoked or one deported,” he cautioned.
Onilu also urged visitors to report all excess funds beyond legal sums and to avoid carrying forbidden or contraband materials in luggage when arriving in the US.
He warned against overstretch or breaking visa rules, that it might jeopardize future travel opportunities—not just for the person concerned but also for other Nigerians with honest intentions to travel. “Your action hurts the chances of other Nigerians with sincere reasons to travel to the US,” he added.
Speaking directly to Nigerian students in the United States, Onilu urged them to ensure that they possess valid visas and regularize their status in good time before expiry. He went on to add that tourist visas would be denied to those intending to visit for exigencies such as giving birth, simply to obtain US citizenship for their children.
Repeating the US government’s claim to legal and safe migration, Onilu explained that strict visa processes aim to ensure secure entry while preventing abuse and protecting national security.
