The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has terminated the engagement of its third-party visa application service provider in the United States, directing all travellers seeking Nigerian visas to submit their applications directly to Nigeria’s Embassy and Consulates.

The directive takes immediate effect, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi.

Until the announcement, Online Integrated Solutions (OIS) Services managed Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres across the United States on behalf of the Federal Government.

Akinlabi did not disclose the reason for the disengagement but said visa applicants are now required to submit their applications directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or the Consulates-General in New York and Atlanta until further notice.
He assured applicants that the Embassy and Consulates have put adequate measures in place to ensure the seamless submission, processing and issuance of visas despite the transition.

“Travellers seeking Nigerian visas are now required to submit their applications directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Consulates of Nigeria in New York and Atlanta until further notice,” the statement read.

The NIS spokesman urged applicants to monitor the official communication channels of the Service and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to efficient and improved service delivery.

The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to reform Nigeria’s immigration and consular services by strengthening oversight of visa administration and improving service efficiency for foreign nationals and Nigerians in the diaspora.

Stakeholders in the travel and immigration sector have, in recent years, advocated greater transparency and direct government supervision of visa processing, citing concerns over delays, administrative bottlenecks and additional charges associated with third-party service providers.