The United States’ recent visa restrictions on Nigerians have sparked criticism, with analysts warning of deeper geopolitical motives.
The United States’ recent visa restrictions on Nigerians have sparked criticism, with analysts warning of deeper geopolitical motives. The U.S. cut Nigeria’s visa duration to three months and issued a stern warning: “We will pursue criminal charges against those that engage in visa fraud and those who bring in and harbour illegal aliens,” adding, “A nation without borders is not a nation.” Critics say the crackdown disproportionately targets Africans, especially Nigerians, despite America’s history as a nation built on immigration.
Analyst Kenneth Okechukwu argues the policy may be retaliation for Nigeria’s refusal to accept deported illegal migrants and its independent foreign policy, including ties to BRICS. He described the U.S. as using “divide and rule tactics,” citing a recent summit that excluded Nigeria and other African powers. Okechukwu alleged past U.S. complicity in Nigeria’s insurgency and accused Washington of selective engagement. “The chaotic consequences of Washington’s action is galvanising the momentum towards multilateralism,” he concluded.