United States President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation imposing additional entry restrictions on nationals from countries classified as high-risk to US national security, with Nigeria among those newly affected.
The proclamation, signed on Tuesday, cites what the White House described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” by the affected countries. It adds 15 nations to an existing list already subject to partial travel restrictions.
Details of the decision were published in a White House fact sheet titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” dated December 16, 2025.
Nigeria’s inclusion follows an earlier declaration by President Trump on October 31, when he designated the country a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of targeted violence against Christians.
Explaining the rationale behind Nigeria’s designation, the US government stated that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State continue to operate in parts of the country, creating what it described as “substantial screening and vetting difficulties” for US authorities.
The White House also referenced data from the US Overstay Report, which shows that Nigeria recorded a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 per cent, while the overstay rate for F, M, and J category visas stood at 11.90 per cent.
According to the administration, the latest restrictions are intended to enhance national security and public safety. The White House described the move as “strengthening national security through common sense restrictions based on data.”
The proclamation is expected to affect visa processing and entry conditions for Nigerian nationals, although the full scope of the restrictions has not yet been detailed.
