By Ayo Kehinde
President Donald J. Trump has tightened United States entry rules, placing Nigeria among 15 countries subjected to partial travel restrictions.
The decision, announced on Tuesday in a White House fact sheet, marked an expansion of security measures targeting countries assessed as posing elevated risks to U.S. national security and public safety.
The new proclamation, though part of a move to strengthen border controls and enhance public safety, according to the White House, applies to countries with “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing”, which it said hinder the ability of U.S. authorities to properly assess risks posed by some foreign nationals seeking entry into the country.
Under the new proclamation, full entry restrictions remain in force for 12 countries previously covered under Proclamation 10949—Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Five additional countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, have now been added to the full restriction list, along with individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
Also, Laos and Sierra Leone, which were earlier under partial restrictions, have been elevated to full restrictions, while Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain subject to partial limitations.
In addition to Nigeria, other countries newly placed under partial restrictions include Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The White House said the proclamation provides exemptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests. Case-by-case waivers remain possible, although family-based immigrant visa categories considered to carry “demonstrated fraud risks” have been narrowed.
President Trump was quoted in the fact sheet as saying, “It is the President’s duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will not harm the American people.”
Explaining the rationale for the restrictions, the White House cited concerns, including widespread corruption, unreliable civil and criminal documentation, weak or nonexistent birth registration systems, high visa overstay rates, refusal by some governments to repatriate removable nationals, and the presence of terrorist, criminal, and extremist activity in certain affected countries. It also pointed to instances where governments fail to share passport exemplars or law enforcement data, or operate citizenship-by-investment schemes that obscure applicants’ identities.
The administration stated that the restrictions are country-specific and intended to encourage cooperation and reforms, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court has previously upheld similar travel measures as falling within presidential authority and serving legitimate national security objectives.
For Nigeria, the proclamation means continued access to certain U.S. visa categories, though with heightened scrutiny for some immigrant and non-immigrant applications. The White House emphasised that the restrictions are not permanent and could be reconsidered if the affected countries address the identified shortcomings.
The decision comes weeks after President Trump, on October 31, designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over allegations of widespread violence against Christians.
The U.S. government advised affected travellers to consult American embassies and consulates for updated guidance
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government of Nigeria had yet to issue an official response.
