Shehu Sani Urges Reciprocal Travel Ban If Trump Bars Nigerians from Entering U.S.
Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on President Bola Tinubu to impose a reciprocal travel ban on American citizens if the United States government under President Donald Trump goes forward with proposed restrictions barring Nigerians from entering the country.
Sani made the statement via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account in response to an internal U.S. government memo that outlines sweeping new travel restrictions affecting Nigeria and 35 other countries.
“The US should not ban Nigerians from travelling to their country. There is no reason to do that. We don’t fall into the category of those countries they consider as threats. But if they eventually ban us, our country should respond with similar gesture,” Sani wrote.
He added pointedly:
“However, there are those of us who appreciate the peace and dignity of our villages and mud houses than going to live in places where we are not welcomed.”
The former lawmaker’s remarks come in response to a leaked U.S. State Department directive signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo, dated Saturday, reportedly gives 36 countries a 60-day deadline to meet new security and identity verification benchmarks or face severe visa and entry restrictions.
According to The Washington Post, the memo accuses several of the targeted nations of lacking “competent or cooperative central government authorities” capable of issuing reliable civil documents. It also cites widespread government fraud and concerns over terrorism threats, visa overstays, and unverifiable national identities.
Countries listed in the proposed travel ban include Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt, and Cameroon, among others. The restrictions are part of a broader executive order signed by Trump in early June aimed at bolstering U.S. national security and curbing what he describes as unvetted migration from “high-risk” nations.
During a national address, Trump defended the policy by tying it to recent violent incidents, including a reported attack in Boulder, Colorado, where 12 people were injured during a pro-Israel rally. He claimed such events justify a tougher immigration stance.
“Very simply, we cannot allow open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those seeking to enter the United States,” Trump declared.
“That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.”
Notably, this is not the first time the Trump administration has faced backlash over its immigration policy. Critics point to the first-term travel bans, which disproportionately affected Muslim-majority and African countries, sparking accusations of racism and xenophobia.
In this latest policy iteration, the State Department memo warns that countries failing to comply may face immediate visa suspensions or entry bans. However, nations that demonstrate cooperation such as accepting deportees or entering into “safe third country” agreements could avoid or reduce penalties.
The U.S. government has also raised concerns about some nations offering citizenship-by-investment schemes without requiring residency, suggesting such systems pose security risks by enabling anonymity and ease of travel for questionable individuals.
As of the time of reporting, the Nigerian government has not issued an official response to the proposed ban, but pressure is mounting on the Tinubu administration to take a firm diplomatic stance.
Critical observers argue that the proposed U.S. travel ban undermines longstanding bilateral relations and unfairly targets African nations with already fragile diplomatic and economic ties to Washington.
Senator Sani’s call for a reciprocal ban, though symbolic, reflects growing frustration among Nigerians over what many view as an increasingly hostile foreign policy stance by the Trump administration.
If implemented, the ban could have significant repercussions on business, education, tourism, and diaspora relations particularly for Nigeria, which has one of the largest African communities in the United States.
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Shehu Sani Urges Reciprocal Travel Ban If Trump Bars Nigerians from Entering U.S.