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The United States has placed Nigeria on a new list of countries facing fresh entry restrictions, following an expanded travel policy announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The move forms part of a broader Proclamation signed by the US president, which introduces new limits on the entry of foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk to American security and public safety.
Nigeria is among 15 additional countries now facing partial restrictions under the policy.
According to the Proclamation, the decision is based on what the White House described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” by affected countries.
The White House explained that the action is aimed at tightening border controls and strengthening national security. It described the policy as “strengthening national security through common sense restrictions based on data.”
Under the new framework, restrictions vary by country. Some nations face full entry bans, while others, including Nigeria, are subject to partial limitations affecting certain visa categories and immigration pathways.
The Proclamation maintains full restrictions on nationals from 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Five additional countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria — have now been placed under full restrictions. Individuals holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents are also affected. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were earlier under partial restrictions, have now been moved to the full restriction category.
Nigeria joins several other countries newly placed under partial restrictions. Others on the list include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela remain under partial limitations from earlier proclamations.
The White House noted that the policy includes exemptions. These cover lawful permanent residents of the United States, existing visa holders, diplomats, athletes, and certain other visa categories. It also allows for case-by-case waivers where entry is deemed to serve US national interests.
However, the administration disclosed that some family-based immigrant visa categories have been tightened due to what it described as “demonstrated fraud risks.”
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the White House said the restrictions are designed “to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”
It added that the policy is also intended to encourage cooperation from foreign governments, improve information-sharing, and support broader national security and counterterrorism objectives.
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.”
The document further stated that, following consultations with cabinet officials and security agencies, “President Trump has determined that the entry of nationals from additional countries must be restricted or limited to protect U.S. national security and public safety interests.”
The restrictions are said to be country-specific, reflecting what the administration called unique challenges in each location. These include issues such as corruption, unreliable civil and criminal records, weak birth registration systems, and limited access to law-enforcement data.
The White House also cited high visa overstay rates, refusal by some governments to accept deported nationals, and concerns linked to criminal and extremist activities.
As part of the same review process, the Proclamation announced that restrictions on Turkmenistan had been partially lifted. Nonimmigrant visa bans were removed after the country showed improved cooperation, although immigrant entry restrictions remain in place.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria earlier reported that President Trump had declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a designation linked to allegations of widespread religious violence and the killing of Christians.
That earlier decision had already strained diplomatic conversations between Abuja and Washington, setting the stage for heightened scrutiny of Nigeria under the new travel policy.
The latest move is expected to raise concerns among Nigerians planning travel, study, or family reunification in the United States, while also adding another layer to the ongoing debate over immigration, security, and US-Africa relations.
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