The American government has explained why it suspended entry of Nigerian and nationals from five other countries.
The other affected are Eritrea, Myanmar, Tanzania, Sudan and Kyrgyzstan.
In ‘Proclamation on improving enhanced vetting capabilities and processes for detecting attempted entry’ posted on www.whitehouse.gov and dated January 31, 2020 and signed by President Donald Trump, the US said Nigeria failed to comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing under an assessment model using three categories of criteria to assess national security and public-safety threats.
The proclamation said “Nigeria does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics.
“Nigeria does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, which is necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the United States.
“Nigeria also presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the United States.
“Nigeria is an important strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism, and the United States continues to engage with Nigeria on these and other issues.
“The Department of State has provided significant assistance to Nigeria as it modernizes its border management capabilities, and the government of Nigeria recognizes the importance of improving its information sharing with the United States.
“Nevertheless, these investments have not yet resulted in sufficient improvements in Nigeria’s information sharing with the United States for border and immigration screening and vetting.”
It added the clincher: “The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.”
It added that “this proclamation is effective at 12:01am eastern standard time on February 21, 2020” and that “it is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the national security, foreign policy, and counter-terrorism interests of the United States.
