US Trump administration don impose partial travel ban on Nigerians wey dey try enter America, citing security wahala and wahala wey dem dey get to verify nationals.
Di new restriction affect Nigerians wey get visa for green card, business (B‑1), tourism (B‑2), combined business and tourism (B‑1/B‑2), academic studies (F), vocational or non-academic studies (M), and exchange programs (J).
White House publish di proclamation for im website on Tuesday, talk say:
“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.”
US explain say radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State dey operate freely for some parts of Nigeria, and di security crisis dey make am hard to properly check or verify people wey dey come from Nigeria. The US also mention say Nigerians get high rate of visa overstay, with B‑1/B‑2 visas at 5.56% and F, M, J visas at 11.90%.
Di proclamation say consular officers for Nigeria don get instruction to reduce validity for any other nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians, to di extent wey law allow.
Di restriction follow weeks after US tag Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ with Trump accusing Nigeria of supporting Islamic extremists wey dey persecute Christians. Nigerian government deny di accusation, say di security wahala dey complex.
Talks dey between both countries, as US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, meet Nigeria Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, on Monday to discuss areas of “mutual concern.”
Other countries
Di proclamation also impose partial restrictions on 14 other countries, adding Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to seven countries already under partial restriction since June.
Di ban go start on 1 January, and e go only affect foreign nationals wey dey outside US and wey no get valid visa by dat date.
Some exemptions dey, including lawful permanent residents, diplomatic visas, athletes for major events, certain special immigrant visas, and persecuted ethnic or religious minorities from Iran.
Total travel ban
US don also impose total travel ban on Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria, and Sudan due to fraudulent or unreliable documents, corruption, and lack of government control. Palestine Authority passport holders also dey included.
US say di travel bans dey meant to protect country from terrorists and other security threats, and because e dey difficult to properly vet nationals from affected countries.
