KEY POINTS
- US travel restrictions on Nigerians affect major visa classes.
- Security and overstay rates drive the decision.
- Wider bans extend to other African states.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed new travel restrictions on Nigerians seeking entry into the United States, citing security risks, difficulties in vetting travellers and persistent visa overstay rates.
Under the measures, Nigerians are barred from entering the US as immigrants and through several non-immigrant visa categories. These include B-1 business visas, B-2 tourist visas, combined B-1/B-2 visas, as well as F, M and J visas for academic, vocational and exchange programmes.
The White House announced the policy shift in a presidential proclamation published Tuesday. The document formally suspends entry for affected Nigerian nationals and directs US agencies to enforce tighter screening standards.
“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 said.
Visa suspensions reshape Nigerian travel
“Radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate freely in certain parts of Nigeria,” the White House said, adding that these conditions create substantial vetting challenges.
Visa compliance data also featured prominently in the decision. According to the US Overstay Report, Nigeria recorded a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent. Overstay rates for F, M and J visas stood at 11.90 percent.
Beyond the suspension, the administration instructed consular officers in Nigeria to reduce the validity of other non-immigrant visas where legally permitted.
Security and overstay data cited
According to Business Day, the move follows Washington’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom. President Trump accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christian communities, an allegation the Nigerian government has rejected. Officials in Abuja have said the country’s security challenges are complex and not rooted in religious targeting.
Despite the tougher stance, diplomatic engagement continues. On Monday, US Ambassador Richard Mills met Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar to discuss security and bilateral cooperation.
The proclamation also extends partial travel restrictions to 14 other countries, including Angola, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The measures take effect January 1 and apply to foreign nationals outside the US who do not already hold valid visas.
Full travel bans were imposed on Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria and Sudan. The administration cited unreliable civil records, corruption and weak criminal databases as reasons for the broader bans.
US officials said the policy aims to protect national security and enforce immigration laws where adequate screening cannot be assured.
