ormer Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to the recent U.S. visa restrictions on Nigerians and citizens of 23 other countries, describing the policy as exclusionary toward “third world migrants” and urging affected nations to prioritize national development.
The restrictions, announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, expanded entry bans for foreign nationals from 24 countries, citing “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that pose threats to U.S. national security and public safety.
Affected countries include:
Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Asia: Laos, Syria, Turkmenistan.
Caribbean / Oceania: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga.
Middle East / Palestinian Territories: Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
Reacting on his official X handle on Wednesday, Sani criticized the breadth and implications of the restrictions:
“The first visa ban focused on those who engage in acts of religious persecution, and many celebrated on social media, thinking it’s only for government officials. The second visa restriction is for everyone, now that Nigeria is listed among 23 others.”
He further highlighted what he saw as selective targeting of countries:
“The recent list has no Arab countries but mostly Black Africans and Caribbeans, even though safety and security was used as the basis. The message is very clear: third world migrants are not welcomed. Stay back and build your country or deal with your problems.”
The White House fact sheet states that the proclamation imposes a full suspension on eight countries and a partial suspension on 16 others, affecting immigrants and nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The administration stressed that the measures are “necessary to prevent the entry of foreign nationals about whom the United States lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose.”
