A 2023 candidate for governor of Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has charged that the US Embassy in Nigeria runs a “fraudulent, exploitative, and non-transparent” visa application procedure.
Speaking to reporters on Monday following his denial of a visa at the US Embassy in Abuja, Ajadi expressed his harsh disapproval of the present procedure, accusing the US embassy that it unfairly charges Nigerians full application fees without providing fair treatment or explicit justifications for rejection.
The chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP said: “The American Embassy collects full visa application fees from Nigerians without providing any opportunity for appeal.
“The US embassy merely issues a piece of paper to deny applicants, a document many people do not understand. We are not lawyers, so a refusal letter filled with legal jargon is not sufficient to explain the reason for the denial. The specific reason for the refusal should be clearly stated, rather than issuing a generic document to all rejected applicants. There should also be an avenue for immediate appeal, as both America and Nigeria are democratic nations, not dictatorships.”
According to Ajadi, the majority of rejection letters from the US embassy substantive feedback for applicants and are rife with ambiguous legalese, which he claimed compromises justice and transparency.
“My name is unique, like every applicant’s is. Each person deserves a letter with specific reasons for denial. This is not transparency. It’s institutional deception. Nigerians deserve better.”
According to US law, visa applicants denied visas under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are considered to have insufficiently demonstrated ties to their home country that would force them to return after visiting the US. This section is one of the most commonly cited reasons for denials by the US embassy, and decisions made under it are not appealable. Those who want to try again must reapply and pay the entire visa price.
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“I am asking the consular officer to provide evidence that I do not meet the requirements stated under Section 214(b).
“The questions I was asked during the interview did not even align with the law they claim to apply.”
Ajadi made it clear that he applied for the visa with a valid business reason. According to him, he has meetings planned and intends to invest in US real estate through his real estate firm, which is a division of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, a business that also engages in manufacturing, entertainment, hospitality, and sports promotion.
“I did not apply for a visa as a joke. I have business commitments and legitimate reasons for travel,” he said.
He further criticized the process as overly expensive and lacking accountability, pointing out that many Nigerians spend hundreds of dollars on non-refundable fees, only to be denied without proper justification.
“When the United Kingdom denies you a visa, it gives you a clear reason. But the American Embassy gives a generic letter and keeps your money,” he said.
Ajadi also drew attention to the increasing difficulties in obtaining visa appointments, asserting that many Nigerians are now compelled to use third-party agents who demand outrageous sums in order to obtain slots.
“Ordinary Nigerians can’t book appointments directly anymore. They have to pay agents who charge extra. It’s become a gambling game. The system is broken.”
Ajadi made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump, whom he publicly supports, to start implementing policy changes that would shield visa applicants from what he called business exploitation.
“With due respect, sir, President Trump, I’m one of your strong supporters. Please champion a law that mandates all US embassies not to collect full visa fees until a visa is approved. They should only charge a minimal administrative fee, say N50,000,” he proposed.
Ajadi also urged Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address what he called “dubious practices” by the US embassy and other foreign embassies operating in the country.
“Mr. President, we need a new policy. Only successful applicants should pay the full visa fee. The rest should only pay a minimal processing charge. It’s unfair to make Nigerians spend as much as one million naira on a visa that was never going to be granted,” he said.
He urged civil society organisations and NGOs to take up the issue and push for reforms across foreign missions in Nigeria.
“As the President of All Youths Reoriented Initiative of Nigeria (AYRION), and a non-governmental organisation, I’m calling on NGOs to rise and demand fairness. If America, as the world’s leading democracy, can fix this, other embassies will follow.”
