US moves to review immigrant visa ban on Nigerians

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The U.S. government has said that it is re-evaluating its ban on some categories of Migrant Visas for Nigerians, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mustapha Sulaiman, has revealed.

According to him, the US is satisfied with Nigeria’s compliance with information sharing and other concerns earlier raised, adding that the country had met almost 90 per cent of the requirements set by the U.S. government.

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He spoke at the end of the inaugural meeting of the U.S./Nigeria Forum in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the forum will serve as a platform where both countries can progressively improve on bilateral relations and address concerns for the benefit of citizens.

He said, “We have accomplished so much within a very difficult year, but essentially we want to acknowledge the recognition and put on record Nigeria’s response to the concerns by the United States government in respect of the immigrant visa restriction that was imposed on Nigerians.

“From the assessment of the recipient of our response, I think we have accomplished almost 90 per cent of the requirements that have been set in that regard.

“That is why I believe the U.S. government is having the comfort to even reevaluate. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been candidates for re-evaluation. The consular forum was agreed on earlier in the year during the Bi- National Commission of the United States and Nigeria which was held in Washington January, February and that agreement is what is coming to push now.

Also speaking, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, commended Nigeria on the progress made in information sharing and other concerns raised by the U.S. government, which led to the ban.

Leonard explained that the Presidential Proclamation enjoins the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to prepare a report addressing the measures that have been taken which is then submitted to the White House for re-evaluation.