The White House has announced the new restrictions in a statement published on its website on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump administration has imposed new travel restrictions on Nigeria, citing security concerns and difficulties in vetting nationals.
The new restriction suspended entry for Nigerians seeking to enter the US as immigrants, or on B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas.
This means Nigerians who hold visas for business (B‑1), tourism (B‑2), combined business and tourism (B‑1/B‑2), academic studies (F), vocational or nonacademic studies (M), and exchange programmes (J) are now barred from entering the United States under the new restrictions.
The White House announced the new restrictions in a statement published on its website on Tuesday.
“The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended,” the statement read.
The country raised the operations of radical Islamist groups in Nigeria and the persistent security crisis as some of the reasons for its decisions.
It claimed that as a result of this crisis, the government found it difficult to properly check or verify the background, security, or risk of people coming from many countries.
It also stated that Nigerians have a high rate of visa overstay.
“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.
“ According to the Overstay Report, Nigeria had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 11.90 percent.
“The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended,” the White House said.
The Trump administration also said consular officers in Nigeria have also been instructed to “reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Nigeria to the extent permitted by law.”
