The United States Government has since the second quarter of 2019 taken major measures against Nigeria, the most populous nation on the continent.
Although the two countries are allies, the U.S., in its explanation of each action, made it clear that Nigeria either disregarded warnings or failed to do enough on the issues acted upon.
At different times in the past eight months, the world power made four decisions that triggered local and international discourse.
On three occasions, the self-acclaimed ‘giant of Africa’ promised to make amendments. But in response to one, Nigeria presidency not only protested, it chastised President Donald Trump and counselled his administration to focus on problems affecting America.
Pros and cons of U.S. declarations are being asserted but the latter in clear lead. Nigerians are piqued for the reason that they cannot fathom how the leadership forgot that a stitch in time saves nine.
Citizens, home and abroad, are continuing the conversation in private and public.
THE TIMELINE
May 14, 2019: The U.S Embassy in Nigeria announced the indefinite suspension of interview waivers for renewals, otherwise known as the “Dropbox” process.
“All applicants in Nigeria seeking a nonimmigrant visa to the United States must apply online, and will be required to appear in-person at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or U.S. Consulate General in Lagos to submit their application for review.
“Applicants must appear at the location they specified when applying for the visa renewal”, a statement issued read.
The U.S. explained that Nigeria’s processing procedures are regularly reviewed in order to assess the ability to quickly, efficiently, and securely process visa applications.
A retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olukunle Bamgbose and Amb. Dapo Fafowora, a former Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, in separate reactions, believed that there was no serious implication.
However, the Nigerian government seemed bothered. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed that the ministry promptly engaged the U.S. to make visa issuance less difficult for genuine citizens.
Onyeama lamented that most of the inimical migrant decisions taken by some countries were caused by disobedient Nigerians.
“Those who do not obey the rule (i.e. overstay their visas) of other countries have more negative impact on those who obeyed,” the minister said.
“We have engaged with the U.S government. We are trying to work through them and they are looking at various alternative and solutions to make less difficult for the genuine visitors.
“We are doing what we can, they (U.S. Embassy) told me that there would be expedited interview for certain people; that there would be flexibility to request for an interview.”
August 27, 2019: Just as Nigerians adjusted to the new system, the U.S. announced that they will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, for all approved applications for nonimmigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications.
“The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application”, the Embassy in Nigeria said.
“Nigerian citizens whose applications for a nonimmigrant visa are denied will not be charged the new reciprocity fee. Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification”.
This time, America pointedly blamed Nigeria, affirming that its decision was an eye for an eye.
The Embassy recalled that since early 2018, the U.S. government engaged the Nigerian government to request a change in the fees charged to U.S. citizens for certain visa categories.
“After eighteen months of review and consultations, the government of Nigeria has not changed its fee structure for U.S. citizen visa applicants, requiring the U.S. Department of State to enact new reciprocity fees in accordance with our visa laws”, it justified.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, directed the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, to act immediately.
A statement by the ministry acknowledged 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 authorization for its recommendations was delayed due to transition processes in the ministry at the policy level.”
The government then revealed that it had approved the decrease of visa charges payable by U.S. citizens.
Yet, the hurried slash failed to stop the revenge as America executed its resolution precisely forty-eight hours later. Till date, Nigerians still pay the fee.
December 20, 2019: America confirmed that it beamed its searchlight on religion in Nigeria and discovered that there was a high level of intolerance.
The United States listed Nigeria among countries that engage in “violations of religious freedom”.
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said Comoros, Russia, Uzbekistan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Sudan are on a “Special Watch List” for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom”.
While the Christian leadership in Nigeria hailed the categorization, President Muhammadu Buhari’s special adviser on media, Femi Adesina, denounced it. The unwavering spokesman fulminated and declared that the U.S. is not ‘world police’.
“The United States itself has a lot to chew solving its own problems not to talk of poke-nosing into another country. Nobody has appointed them the policeman of the world. Let them face their own issues,” he said on Channels TV.
Adesina told America and other foreign powers to respect the internal issues of Nigeria, stressing that the government doing business with them does not mean the nation’s sovereignty should not appreciated.
It is unclear if moves to salvage the situation has commenced before America’s next review which may include Nigeria among “Countries of Particular Concern”, a more damaging status.
January 31, 2020: The U.S. hit Nigeria again with immigration ban. Henceforth, its citizens and those of Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar will not get visas that can lead to permanent residency.
“These countries, for the most part, want to be helpful but for a variety of different reasons simply failed to meet those minimum requirements that we laid out,” acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said.
Wolf assured that non-immigrant visas – visitor, business or medical – would still be issued.
In his proclamation, President Trump said Nigeria does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, which is necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the U.S.
“Nigeria also presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the United States”, Trump averred.
Accepting the facts, President Buhari established a committee to study and address updated requirements relating to the assessment of compliance with certain security criteria by foreign governments.
Critics are feeding on these circumstances, but it’s not been too bad for Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. Despite the critical pronouncements, the U.S. recently – twice in four days actually – offered some kind words.
Trump, in his January 31 proclamation, described Nigeria as “an important strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism”.
Also, on February 3, after the signing of the agreement between the U.S., the Bailiwick of Jersey and Nigeria, for the return of $308 million stolen by late General Sani Abacha, America called the deal “a symbol of the weight” it places on the fight against corruption.
“We welcome President Buhari’s personal commitment to that fight”, Morgan Ortagus, State Department spokesperson, said in a statement.
In an interview, Norris Campbell, a political and foreign affairs analyst, posited that America retaliated because “they were compelled to respond”.
She remarked that all events are playing out against several backdrops including the U.S. 2020 election.
“Trump’s base responds positively to anti-immigration policies. So while this might not affect the larger number of Nigerians who come to the U.S. for non-immigrant purposes, it will be popular on the campaign trail”, Campbell said.
“Second reason, of course, is our abysmal human rights records and the United States’ continual admonition that we do better. The persecution of journalists and Christians in particular was always going to get a reaction. Addition to this debacle was the Sowore saga and the recent execution of the CAN Chairman (Lawan Andimi).
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“Third reason is security. We’re the third most terrorized nation in the world. Our inability to police our borders, our less-than-secure passport issuance system, lax airport security checks and our Africa-wide visa-on-arrival policy was always going to raise concerns.
“Apart from the reputational damage, the ban won’t significantly affect Nigeria, as it is targeted towards professionals looking to settle abroad. We have 200 million people to worry about at home.
“It points to a lack of diplomatic relations that we let this happen, despite the repeated warnings we received. I do not expect a reversal anytime before the U.S. Elections.”
On what Nigeria should do, Campbell urged the government to employ better diplomatic relations with America and other western countries.
“One also hopes, for Nigeria’s sake rather than America’s, that the security loopholes highlighted by the Americans are closed as a matter of urgency by this government”, the expert added.
DAILY POST