Nigeria excluded as Trump targets 22 African nations in expanded visa ban

Mar 15, 2025

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Nigeria has been left out of a proposed list of 43 countries, including 22 African nations, facing new visa restrictions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration policy.

This initiative builds on similar measures he implemented during his first tenure in office.

A draft report prepared by the U.S. State Department and security agencies, following Trump’s directive upon returning to office in January, categorizes countries into three tiers—ranging from a complete travel ban to partial visa restrictions and an opportunity to address U.S. concerns.

As was the case during Trump’s first term, the majority of affected nations are in Africa or have predominantly Muslim populations.

However, Nigeria, which was previously among the countries listed for visa restrictions, has not been included this time.

This omission has raised questions, particularly as it comes just days after a congressional committee cleared the way for potential sanctions on Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.

The draft categorizes 11 countries under a “red list,” signifying a total ban on entry into the United States. These nations include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The “orange list,” comprising 10 nations such as Belarus, Russia, Pakistan, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Laos, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Turkmenistan, is recommended for strict visa restrictions.

The third category, labeled the “yellow list,” includes 22 countries that will be given a 60-day period to address U.S. security concerns or risk being placed under stricter restrictions. Among them are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.

It is important to note that this list is still in the review process, with officials from U.S. embassies, the State Department, and intelligence agencies assessing the recommendations before a final decision is made public.