International
Trump Imposes Fresh Travel Ban On Nigeria, Citing Boko Haram, Visa Overstays, ‘National Security’ Concerns
Nigeria was singled out for what the Trump administration described as security challenges linked to terrorism and immigration compliance.
Washington, United States– President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a fresh travel ban on Nigeria and several other countries, citing what the White House described as serious national security and public safety concerns.
In a statement released by the White House, the US government said Mr Trump signed a proclamation “expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing.”
Nigeria was singled out for what the Trump administration described as security challenges linked to terrorism and immigration compliance.
“Radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate freely in certain parts of Nigeria, which creates substantial screening and vetting difficulties,” the White House said.
The statement also cited visa overstay figures, claiming that Nigeria recorded a B-1/B-2 (business and tourism) visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent, while the overstay rate for F, M, and J visas—largely issued to students and exchange visitors—stood at 11.90 percent.
According to the proclamation, the new restrictions are part of efforts to protect the United States from “national security and public safety threats,” particularly from countries the administration says fail to meet US standards for identity management, information-sharing and immigration enforcement.
In addition to Nigeria, other countries affected by the latest travel restrictions include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
