… Cites Boko Haram Threat, 15 Other Countries Affected
Daud Olatunji
The United States has placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions, citing security challenges and high visa overstay rates, in a move that further strains diplomatic ties between both nations.
The White House announced the decision on Tuesday in a presidential proclamation updating countries subject to full and partial travel suspensions. Nigeria was listed among 15 mostly African countries hit with partial restrictions.
Others affected include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Explaining the decision, the White House said the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of Nigeria had created “substantial screening and vetting difficulties” for US authorities.
It also pointed to immigration compliance issues, noting that Nigeria recorded a 5.56 per cent overstay rate for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and an 11.90 per cent overstay rate for F, M and J student and exchange visas, according to the US Overstay Report.
In contrast, Turkmenistan was removed from the restriction list after, according to the White House, demonstrating “significant progress” in identity management and information-sharing procedures.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were among five countries newly subjected to full travel suspensions and entry bans. The White House cited the presence and operations of terrorist organisations in the Sahelian states as justification for the tougher measures.
South Sudan and Syria were the other countries added to the full restriction list.
The US also retained full travel bans on nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, were escalated to full bans.
“It is the President’s duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people,” the White House said, adding that the measures were necessary where the US lacked sufficient information to assess security risks, enforce immigration laws and meet counterterrorism objectives.
Nigeria’s inclusion marks a significant shift, as the country was excluded when President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June imposing a full travel ban on 12 countries and heightened restrictions on seven others.
Tensions, however, have steadily risen in recent months. In October, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of widespread religious persecution, blaming radical Islamist violence for what he described as mass killings.
Earlier this month, the US announced new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians accused of undermining religious freedom. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the measures would affect individuals who “direct, authorise, fund, support or carry out violations of religious freedom.”
The move followed a July decision by the US Embassy to sharply reduce the validity and entry allowance of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians, limiting stays to three months with single entry.
While visa reciprocity was cited publicly, diplomatic sources said Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers from the US also contributed to the clampdown.
Amid the diplomatic row, US Congressman Riley Moore recently said Washington and Abuja were close to finalising a strategic security framework to combat Boko Haram and Islamic State fighters in Nigeria, following talks with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
On Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills.
Although details of the meeting were not disclosed, the US Embassy said Washington looked forward to continued engagement with Nigeria on issues of mutual concern.
For Nigerians, the latest restrictions deepen uncertainty around travel, education and business ties with the United States, as relations between both countries face renewed pressure.
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