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IMPOSE TRAVEL BAN ON AMERICANS IF TRUMP BARS NIGERIANS FROM ENTERING US – SHEHU SANI TELLS TINUBU
Former Senator Shehu Sani has urged President Bola Tinubu to impose a travel ban on Americans if United States President Donald Trump restricts Nigerians from entering the U.S.
He shared his thoughts on the issue via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“The US should not ban Nigerians from travelling to their country. There is no reason to do that. We don’t fall into the category of those countries they consider as threats. But if they eventually ban us, our country should respond with similar gesture,” Sani said.Travel guides for Nigeria
“However, there are those of us who appreciate the peace and dignity of our villages and mud houses than going to live in places where we are not welcomed.”
The Trump administration was considering sweeping travel restrictions that could bar citizens of Nigeria and 35 other countries from entering the U.S.Travel guides for Nigeria
This is according to a memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent Saturday to U.S. diplomats working with the affected nations.
The memo outlines a 60-day deadline for the listed countries to meet newly established benchmarks set by the State Department.
According to The Washington Post, the internal directive gives the countries until 8 a.m. Wednesday to submit an initial action plan addressing the U.S. demands.
“Some countries had ‘no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents,’ or they suffered from ‘widespread government fraud,’” the memo stated.
The proposed restrictions are part of a broader executive order Trump signed in early June, targeting countries with high incidences of terrorism threats, visa overstays, or unreliable identity verification systems. Trump, during a national address, framed the measure as a critical step for national security.
“Very simply, we cannot allow open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those seeking to enter the United States,” Trump said when he initially announced that 12 countries were restricted from the U.S
He went further to say: “That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
The memo listing the newly affected countries includes: Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.Travel guides for Nigeria
The Trump administration expressed concern about weak identity systems and “the availability of citizenship by monetary investment without a requirement of residency” and alleged “antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States” by nationals from some of the listed countries.
The memo also states that any of the countries could reduce the severity of restrictions if they demonstrate a willingness to cooperate with U.S. immigration enforcement efforts. This could include accepting deported third-country nationals or entering into a “safe third country” agreement.
Although the exact timeline for implementing the proposed restrictions remains unclear, the State Department has indicated that failure to comply with the benchmarks could result in immediate visa limitations or entry bans.
The directive echoes Trump’s first-term travel bans, which faced backlash for disproportionately targeting Muslim-majority and African nations. In this new order, additional countries such as Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, and Haiti are also reportedly under review.
Trump linked this renewed immigration policy to a recent violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where 12 people were injured during an attack at a gathering held in support of Israeli hostages. While investigations are ongoing, Trump cited the event as further justification for stricter immigration controls.
“In the 21st century, we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers from dangerous places all over the world,” he said. “We don’t want them here.”
