A social media firestorm ignited today after Nigerian journalist Dele Momodu claimed the United States halted long-term visas for Nigerians due to the country’s potential alignment with the BRICS economic bloc.
The assertion, posted on X by Dele Momodu, suggested a diplomatic rift, stating, “BREAKING: The United States halts long-term visas for Nigerians. This comes on the heels of attending and actively engaging in the BRICS summit.” The post, featuring an image of a high-profile meeting, also noted, “increasing diplomatic experience and strategic Tinubu’s limited diplomatic experience and meanwhile, ECOWAS has fractured and diverged, marking a significant turning point in regional cooperation.”
The claim faced a sharp rebuttal from Dada Olusegun, a aide to President Bola Tinubu and Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs. In a stern response, Dada Olusegun accused Momodu of spreading “vicious lies,” asserting, “Nowhere in the American embassy’s statement did it say the decision on short-term visas have anything to do with our potential membership of BRICs. The sad part is that this man claims to be an experienced journalist. He is a LIAR.”
