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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The United States of America has placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions, as part of a broader presidential proclamation signed by President Donald Trump aimed at enhancing border security and addressing deficiencies in identity management and information-sharing.
A fact sheet released by the White House on Tuesday, December 16 detailed the expanded measures, which further limit the entry of foreign nationals from nations deemed to have persistent gaps in screening, vetting, and security processes.
Nigeria is among 15 countries newly subjected to partial restrictions, joining Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Unlike full entry bans imposed on other nations including newly added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as individuals holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents, Nigeria’s partial limitations allow continued eligibility for certain visa categories, albeit with heightened scrutiny, particularly for select non-immigrant (such as tourist, business, student, and exchange visitor) and immigrant visas.
Exemptions apply to lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes participating in major events, and cases where entry is determined to serve U.S. national interests.
“The United States must ensure that individuals seeking entry do not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
“The restrictions, based on periodic reviews of compliance with U.S. vetting standards including passport systems, criminal information-sharing, and identity verification, are not permanent and may be lifted if countries remedy identified shortcomings,” the White House stated in the fact sheet.
Specific concerns cited for Nigeria include visa overstay rates (5.56% for B-1/B-2 business/tourist visas and 11.90% for student/exchange visas) and challenges posed by active terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates operating in parts of the country.
The proclamation builds on earlier restrictions reinstated in June 2025, continuing full bans on 12 original high-risk countries (Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) while escalating partial measures on others, such as moving Laos and Sierra Leone to full restrictions.
The new rules are set to take effect in the coming months, with some reports indicating January 1, 2026. The U.S. government has advised affected travelers to check with embassies and consulates for guidance.
As at the time of filling this report, the Nigerian government is yet to issued an official response to the proclamation.