Ambassador Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a prominent Nigerian youth leader, freedom fighter, advocate for good governance, 2023 presidential aspirant, and 2023 Ogun State gubernatorial candidate, has accused the United States Embassy in Nigeria of exploiting visa applicants through a process he described as ‘fraudulent, exploitative, and non-transparent.’
A vocal advocate for social justice and youth empowerment, Ajadi is also a philanthropist and a staunch promoter of entrepreneurial development among Nigerian youths.
Ajadi, who was denied a visa at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Monday, told journalists that the current application system unjustly collects full visa fees from Nigerians without offering applicants a fair process or explanation for denials.
The American Embassy collects full visa application fees from Nigerians without providing any opportunity for appeal,” he said. “The embassy merely issues a piece of paper to denied 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.”
called “dubious practices” by 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 also called on civil society organisations and non-governmental groups to pressure foreign missions into adopting fairer practices.
“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.”
Visa fees for U.S. nonimmigrant categories in Nigeria currently range from $185 to $265. Under U.S. immigration law, consular officers retain broad discretionary power to approve or deny applications—often without providing detailed reasoning. This has contributed to long-standing frustration among applicants, particularly in developing countries
As of press time, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja has not issued an official response to Ambassador Ajadi’s allegations.
