The United States (US) has confirmed that the overstay rate for Nigeria’s B-1/B-2 visas is 5.56 percent, while the overstay rate for student and exchange visas (F, M, J) stands at 11.90 percent, and has therefore suspended the entry of most Nigerian immigrants and temporary visitors.
The new measures are scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2026.
The government also specifically highlighted the active presence of Islamic extremist insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State, which authorities argue impede the conduct of reliable background checks.
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The order, outlined in a proclamation posted on the White House’s website, suspends the entry of Nigerians seeking green cards and a wide range of nonimmigrant visas.
This includes B-1 and B-2 visas for business and tourism, F and M visas for academic and professional study, and J visas for exchange programs.
President Trump’s statement reads:
“The entry of Nigerian nationals into the United States…is hereby suspended,” the proclamation states.
“…Aliens from the countries listed above also took advantage of America’s historic generosity and violated our immigration laws by failing to comply with the terms of their nonimmigrant or immigrant visas.”
“Despite the generous incentives my administration has provided, these visa overstays and other abuses are in flagrant violation of U.S. immigration law.”
“To uphold U.S. immigration laws, we must stop the influx of foreign nationals from countries with high overstay rates and serious misconduct,” he said.
The White House also noted that the “general insecurity” in certain regions makes it nearly impossible to verify the security risks posed by individuals entering the country.
In addition to counter-terrorism concerns, U.S. authorities cited a high rate of visa non-compliance.
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diplomatic tensions
The restrictions follow Nigeria’s recent designation as a “country of particular concern” regarding religious freedom. President Trump has previously accused Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians from persecution by extremists, dismissing it as a “simplistic” interpretation of a complex regional conflict.
Despite the ban, diplomatic channels remain open. On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills met with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Taggar to discuss mutual concerns suggesting that negotiations on security cooperation are underway.
Also read: US cancels 80,000 visas since January as Trump ramps up immigration crackdown
A growing list of restricted countries
Nigeria is one of 15 new countries added to the US restriction list, joining a group of countries facing partial sanctions since June. The new measures also apply to Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and other regions including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Tonga.
This restriction applies only to foreign nationals who are currently outside the United States and do not hold a valid visa by the effective date. Exemptions are provided for legal permanent residents, diplomats, professional athletes, and certain special immigration categories.
