US President Donald Trump has imposed fresh travel restrictions on Nigeria and 14 other nations, citing national security concerns and deficiencies in screening and information-sharing, according to a White House proclamation signed on Wednesday.
The expanded ban, announced late Tuesday, affects nationals from countries deemed to have “persistent and severe deficiencies” in vetting processes that could pose threats to American public safety.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, was singled out due to the unchecked operations of radical Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in certain regions, which hinder effective screening. High visa overstay rates were also highlighted, including 5.56 percent for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and 11.90 percent for student and exchange visas F, M, and J, as per recent US reports.
The other countries included in the restrictions are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
A White House statement explained the move, saying: “Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the nation from national security and public safety threats.”
