The dropbox system previously allowed eligible Nigerians, particularly those with recent US travel history, to renew their visas without interviews.

The Nigerian government will engage the United States to address the suspension of the visa drop box renewal process. 

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

“I will take this matter up. After finishing my meeting in New York here, I will be in Washington as well. We have chargé d’affaires there. 

“I will take this matter up with him and see how we can navigate and resolve the issues,” Oke said.

The dropbox system previously allowed eligible Nigerians, particularly those with recent US travel history, to renew their visas without interviews. 

However, last weekend, complaints surfaced that the US had stopped the service, now requiring all visitor visa applicants to attend in-person interviews.

The development follows the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on migrants. 

Oke, however, downplayed the suspension, noting that Nigeria does not offer Americans a similar drop box renewal service.

“I don’t think there is any serious issue here. It is the prerogative of the United States to cancel the drop box procedure for renewing visas for Nigerians. 

“There is a principle of reciprocity in the diplomatic arena,” he said.

The lawmaker confirmed he had contacted Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, who stated that Nigeria had not received official communication from the US regarding the suspension.

“For example, until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, the American government was issuing Nigerians visas for two years, we were issuing them for one year. 

Later, they moved to issuing visas for five years but we were issuing them for one year until President Bola Tinubu came on board and directed the Minister of Interior to reciprocate,” Oke added.

He also expressed confidence that the Trump administration would review some of its immigration policies.

“Nigeria is such a very important country in the comity of nations that no country will want to ignore. 

“Take it from me. We are that asset that the entire world is waiting to tap. I am positive that we will reap, going further, from the activities of President Donald Trump,” he said.

Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, has vowed mass deportations of “criminal aliens” and already carried out raids targeting undocumented immigrants. 

The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting it while others criticise it.

The US remains a top destination for Nigerian migrants, with an estimated 376,000 Nigerians living there as of 2015. 

The Nigerian diaspora contributes over $20 billion annually to Nigeria’s economy, according to the World Bank’s 2023 data.