Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has suggested that the United States’ recent decision to tighten visa regulations for Nigerians may be tied to President Bola Tinubu’s growing relationship with BRICS nations.
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In a post shared on X, Ahmad expressed his view that the policy change might be more than a matter of diplomatic reciprocity. The United States recently announced that, starting July 8, 2025, most non-immigrant visa applicants from Nigeria will only be granted single-entry visas valid for three months. The US attributed this change to Nigeria’s own short-term visa policy for American citizens.
However, Ahmad believes that Tinubu’s presence at the BRICS Summit in Brazil where Nigeria signaled an interest in forging stronger ties with emerging economies may have influenced the US’ decision.
He pointed to Nigeria’s increasing alignment with global power blocs outside traditional Western alliances as a sign of a broader diplomatic realignment. According to him, this reflects Nigeria’s push to protect its national interests through diversified partnerships.
Despite the implications of the new visa policy, Ahmad remained optimistic. “We are Nigeria and we will be alright,” he wrote.
