By Baron Ike
The Federal Government has approved the reduction of Visa charges payable by US citizens.
The decision was taken in keeping to the policy of reciprocity between Nigeria and the United States and in reaction to the recommendation of a committee set up to look into the issue of visas between the two countries.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola gave the approval on Wednesday as contained in series of tweets released on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Interior from its verified handle @MinOfInteriorNG and signed by Mohammed Manga, Director (Press & Public Relations) in the ministry.
The tweets read: “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.
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the decrease of Visa charges payable by US citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the Committee.
“Accordingly, the Comptroller-General 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 Thursday, 29th August, 2019.”