The United States government has imposed a partial travel ban on Nigerians, suspending entry for applicants seeking immigrant visas and several non-immigrant visa categories, citing security concerns, vetting challenges, and high visa overstay rates.
The restriction was announced on Tuesday in a proclamation issued by the White House, under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Under the new policy, Nigerians are barred from entering the United States as immigrants (green card holders) and as non-immigrants on B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), B-1/B-2 (business/tourism), F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange programme) visas.
“The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended,” the proclamation stated.
The US government cited the activities of radical Islamist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, as well as Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis, as reasons for the restriction.
According to the proclamation, insecurity in parts of Nigeria has made it difficult for US authorities to adequately screen and verify visa applicants, raising concerns about national security.
The administration also referenced high visa overstay rates among Nigerian nationals. It noted that Nigeria recorded a 5.56 per cent overstay rate for B-1/B-2 visas and an 11.90 per cent overstay rate for F, M, and J visas, according to US overstay reports.
In addition, US consular officers in Nigeria have been directed to reduce the validity of other non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians, to the extent permitted by law.
The restrictions come weeks after the US designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern”, following allegations by President Trump that Nigeria was failing to protect Christians from extremist violence. The Nigerian government has rejected the claim, insisting the country’s security challenges are complex and non-religious in nature.
Despite the tension, diplomatic engagements have continued. On Monday, US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss security and other areas of mutual concern.
Restrictions on Other Countries
The proclamation also imposed travel restrictions on 14 other countries, adding to seven nations earlier placed under partial restrictions in June.
The newly added countries are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The restrictions will take effect on January 1, and apply only to foreign nationals outside the United States who do not already possess a valid visa as of the effective date.
However, exemptions were granted for lawful permanent residents, diplomatic visa holders, athletes participating in major international events, and certain special immigrant visa categories. The US also exempted persecuted ethnic and religious minorities from Iran.
Total Travel Ban
The US government imposed a total travel ban on Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria, and Sudan, citing concerns over fraudulent documentation, corruption, weak governance, and instability.
A separate ban was also placed on Palestinian Authority passport holders, with the US citing the ongoing war in Gaza and the presence of Hamas in Palestinian population centres.
According to the White House, the measures are intended to strengthen immigration enforcement, enhance national security, and encourage cooperation from affected governments.