The Trump administration is considering adding Nigeria and 35 other countries to its travel ban list, according to a State Department memo reviewed by The Washington Post. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has given these nations a 60-day deadline to meet new benchmarks or face severe travel restrictions. The memo was sent to US diplomatic missions over the weekend, with countries required to provide initial action plans by Wednesday morning.
Key Takeaways
- Massive Expansion: The list includes 25 African nations plus countries from the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific Islands
- Current Ban Scope: Twelve countries already face full travel restrictions as of June 4, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Somalia
- Compliance Criteria: Countries flagged for issues including unreliable identity documents, high visa overstay rates, government fraud, and "antisemitic and anti-American activity"
- Strategic Partners Affected: Notable US allies, including Egypt, Ghana, and Djibouti, appear on the potential restriction list
This 60-day window forces painful reality checks. European alternatives also profit from Nigerian desperation through expensive visa fees and systematic rejections. With the naira exchange rate making foreign education increasingly unaffordable, families might redirect their investments toward strengthening Nigerian institutions. The federal government's recent shift of scholarship programmes to local universities signals recognition that excellence can be built at home. Quality education closer to home, combined with strategic international partnerships, may offer better value than pursuing increasingly hostile foreign pathways.
Sources
The Washington Post, Politics Nigeria, Council on Foreign Relations
