The Director at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Joshua Bolarinwa, has said that recent visa restrictions or delays experienced by Nigerians abroad may be a consequence of reciprocal immigration policies, with foreign governments possibly responding to Nigeria’s own treatment of their citizens.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE NEWS on Friday, Bolarinwa explained that reciprocity is a foundational principle of international relations, and that visa regimes often reflect a country’s diplomatic stance and domestic practices.
“One of the major principles in diplomatic relations is reciprocity. You do me, I do you as two equal sovereign states,” he said, adding: “Now, Nigeria naturally and Nigerians will not want a case where you have those stringent conditions from the United Arab Emirates.”
He referenced growing complaints from Nigerians about difficult visa processes in countries like the United Kingdom, United States and UAE, and questioned whether Nigeria’s own immigration policies might be contributing to the backlash.
“On the American side, it looks like Nigerians are treated along with some other countries, whatever explanations the Nigerian government has given. But are we facing this as a result of the fact that Nigeria, too, in terms of our visa policies, we seem not to be very fair to citizens of other countries? Because other nationals will tell you that to get a Nigerian visa is a very serious ordeal,” Bolarinwa stated.
“So if you make it difficult for people from other countries to get a Nigerian visa, you shouldn’t be surprised if the other countries then impose their own restrictions.”
He acknowledged that countries routinely update their immigration policies, but stressed that reciprocity often underpins such moves.
“Changing visa policies, restrictions, and all of that on visa policies around the world, they are usually a global action,” he said. “And it happens occasionally. Countries have the right to review their visa policies over time. But more importantly is the issue of reciprocity.”
Bolarinwa added, “Reciprocity is a principle in international relations that says that when you take an action, then such action warrants a reaction from the other country. So it’s a tit for tat, like you mentioned earlier. And in most cases, when certain policies are introduced, reviewing visas, then other countries will have to reciprocate it, or they will have to take a responsive action.”
He noted that Nigeria had reviewed its visa regime between 2022 and 2025 to support trade, tourism and investment, but that such reviews might be interpreted differently by external parties.
“In this context, Nigeria’s visa policy has been the way it has been, between 2022 and 2025, in the process of trying to do certain innovations, some improvements, to facilitate movement of people, goods and services, trade, and all of that, and the ease of doing business policy that the Nigerian government introduced. That came with a lot of review on Nigeria’s visa policies. And that led to so many things.
He concluded by calling for institutional reforms that go beyond policy and address real-life service delivery.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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