Diplomatic row brews as Nigeria, US disagree on travel restrictions

There was palpable anger and frustration as it was discovered that hundreds of intending Nigerian travelers to the United States of America (USA) have been denied entry into that country in the past two weeks.

This has also prompted the Nigerian authorities to issue a travel advisory to its citizens to shelves all but essential travel to the United States because of the lack of clarity on new immigration rules.

Fresh visa applicants were said to have been equally denied approval without explanation, leading to a state of confusion at the visa offices of the US in Lagos on Monday.

But Nigeria government officials have quickly reacted by asking for official explanation to the development, arguing that Nigeria is not on the list of countries under President Donald Trump’s immigration entry ban.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said no reasons were given for the cases.

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“What is of concern here is that even Nigerians with valid multiple-entry U.S. visas had been denied entry and sent back to Nigeria, despite the fact that the country is not among the listed seven countries under Trump’s restricted list,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

She failed to make any explicit link to the ban, but stated that Nigerians without any urgent need should consider rescheduling their trips until there is clarity on the new immigration policy.

Nigeria, a leading economy in the West African sub-region has remained in the good books of the US, as a major trading partner.

But the country has been passing through its worst recession since 2015, which has seen it seek loan facilities from international creditor agencies, including IMF, World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Trump is expected to sign a new executive order on Monday to implement the travel ban, after his first attempt in January was blocked in the courts.

 

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