Despite being previously targeted by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel restrictions, Nigeria has been left off a new draft list of 43 countries facing visa bans and restrictions under his expanded immigration policy.
The proposal, developed by U.S. State Department and security officials following Mr. Trump’s directive upon his return to the White House in January, categorizes countries into three tiers: total travel bans, strict visa restrictions, and a probationary period for compliance.
Nigeria’s exclusion from the list has raised eyebrows, especially considering Mr. Trump’s history with the West African nation.
During his first term, Nigeria was among the countries affected by his travel ban, and just recently, a U.S. congressional committee cleared him to impose sanctions on Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.
The draft recommendation places 11 countries—including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Venezuela—on a ‘red list,’ signifying a complete travel ban. Another 10 nations, including Russia, Pakistan, and Haiti, are on the ‘orange list,’ facing severe visa restrictions.
The largest group, consisting of 22 countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, is on the ‘yellow list,’ given 60 days to address U.S. concerns or risk harsher penalties.
While the list remains under review and could change before its final release, the absence of Nigeria has fueled speculation about the factors influencing Trump’s latest immigration policies.
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