The United States government has officially placed Nigeria on a list of countries subject to travel restrictions and entry limitations in a newly signed presidential proclamation, a sweeping move that has sent shockwaves across global travel and diplomatic circles. The policy, unveiled on Tuesday, signals a significant tightening of U.S. immigration and border security measures, citing national security concerns as its primary justification.
President Donald Trump, in the proclamation titled Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, said that it is the declared policy of the U.S. “to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security and public safety, incite hate crimes, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”
According to the White House document, the expanded restrictions come after extensive review and consultation with senior national security and intelligence officials. It follows earlier immigration orders issued during the president’s current administration, which sought to tighten entry controls for foreign nationals from various nations.
Under the new directive, Nigeria appears on a list of **15 countries whose nationals will face partial restrictions on entry into the United States. The proclamation states that “the entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, and as non-immigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended.” It further notes that “consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other non-immigrant visa issued to nationals of Nigeria to the extent permitted by law,” a policy expected to disrupt tourism, academic study, vocational training, and business travel from the West African nation.
The United States government said that the restrictions on Nigerian nationals stem from concerns about screening, vetting, and information-sharing protocols. In the proclamation, it highlights what it describes as persistent “inadequacies” in identity-management systems and criminal record reporting, which the administration asserts make it difficult for U.S. authorities to confidently assess the risks posed by applicants from affected countries.
