President Donald Trump has expanded U.S. entry restrictions to include nationals from 24 countries, among them Nigeria, citing “persistent shortcomings” in screening, vetting, and information-sharing that could threaten American national security and public safety.
The announcement, published on the White House website on Tuesday, detailed a proclamation that fully suspends entry for eight countries and partially restricts entry for 16 others, covering both immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The administration said the move is designed to tighten border security and ensure compliance with immigration laws, noting that some countries lack the capacity to provide adequate information for assessing the risk posed by their nationals.
Countries under full suspension include Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and travellers using Palestinian Authority-issued or endorsed documents. Factors cited for the restrictions range from terrorist activity and armed conflicts to high visa overstay rates and refusal by some countries to repatriate deported nationals.
Partial suspension affects Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These measures largely target immigrant and nonimmigrant visa holders in the specified categories.
For Nigeria, the fact sheet cited the presence of extremist groups in certain regions and flagged visa overstay statistics as complicating proper screening and vetting of travellers.
Implications for Nigerians
The new restrictions mean that Nigerian travellers seeking to enter the United States on affected visa types may face additional scrutiny, delays, or temporary denial of entry.
Students, business travellers, and tourists may experience longer processing times, while visa applicants could be required to provide more detailed documentation and undergo stricter background checks.
Experts warned that the policy could also affect Nigerians planning to study, work, or participate in exchange programmes in the U.S., making early planning and compliance with visa requirements essential.
Additionally, the restrictions underscored the need for improved information-sharing and vetting procedures between the U.S. and Nigerian authorities to facilitate smoother travel in the future.
“While the restrictions do not constitute a complete ban on Nigerian nationals, they signal a heightened focus on security and adherence to U.S. immigration protocols, requiring affected travellers to exercise caution and preparedness when applying for entry,” experts said.
