Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to the United States’ recent visa restrictions on Nigerians and citizens of 23 other countries, describing the policy as exclusionary against “third world migrants” and urging affected nations to concentrate on developing their own countries.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced expanded entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
The affected countries include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Laos, Syria, Turkmenistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga, and Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
Reacting via his official X handle on Wednesday, Senator Sani criticised the scope and implications of the restrictions.
“The first visa ban focused on those who engage in acts of religious persecution, and many jubilated on social media, thinking it’s only for government officials.
“The second visa restriction is for everyone, now that Nigeria is listed among 23 others.”
He further questioned the composition of the affected countries, suggesting that the policy raised concerns about selective application.
“The recent list has no Arab countries but mostly Black Africans and Caribbeans, even though safety and security was used as the basis.
“The message is very clear: third world migrants are not welcomed. Stay back and build your country or deal with your problems.”
According to the White House fact sheet, the proclamation imposes a full suspension on eight countries and a partial suspension on 16 others, affecting both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J categories.
The administration said the measures are “necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”
