US ‘drop box’ suspension: Diplomat asks Nigeria to retaliate

Gani Lawal, president, Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN), has urged Nigeria to reciprocate to US’ indefinite suspension of interview waivers for visa renewals or “Dropbox” for Nigerians.

Lawal made the call in an interview with NAN on Thursday in Abuja.

The US embassy had on Tuesday announced indefinite suspension of “Dropbox” policy for renewal of visa for Nigerian applicants.

”Visa applications will no longer be accepted by DHL in Nigeria. All applicants in Nigeria seeking a non-immigrant visa to the United States must apply online,” the US mission in Nigeria had said.

“Applicants will be required to appear in person at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or U.S. Consulate General in Lagos to submit their application for review.

“Applicants must appear at the location they specified when applying for the visa renewal.”

Lawal, who was reacting to the development, said each country had the right to change its visa policy.

He, however, noted that the decision to suspend “Dropbox” policy was an extra burden on Nigerian applicants.

He said the decision of the US to ask applicants to appear in person for visa renewal might be as a result of security concerns.

Lawal, however, expressed worry that the US suddenly changed its policy on renewal of visa to Nigerians without giving any explanation.

“The implication for Nigeria is that it pushes up additional burden for Nigerians to renew their visas when ordinarily they should have been dropped through courier, processed and returned,” he said.

“Nigeria also has the right to require the U.S. citizens to appear in person for renewal because diplomatic relations is based on reciprocity that is, if you do this, we also can do that.

“If Nigeria applies reciprocity for what the U.S. has done, America will be the one that will be hurt most because we don’t have embassies in different parts of US.

“What that means is that if you are in California, you have to go to Washington or New York to renew your visa, except if Nigeria do not want to reciprocate.

“What I can say is that Nigeria should reciprocate by asking U.S. citizens to appear in person when they want renewals.”