US Mission to Nigeria: corrupt officials face visa ban

By: Chidozie Nwali

The US Mission in Nigeria has reaffirmed its anti-corruption policy, stating that high-profile Nigerian officials involved in corruption may be denied US visas. The US Mission said on Monday in a post on its  official X (formerly Twitter) account. 

The statement emphasizes that the fight against corruption has no borders and that accountability applies to all, regardless of status. This policy is part of a broader, longstanding US effort to use visa restrictions as a tool to curb corruption and promote democracy globally. The US has previously imposed similar visa restrictions on individuals for their actions in undermining Nigeria’s democratic process, such as during the 2023 elections.

The U.S. government’s policy of denying visas to corrupt officials is not new, but it has gained more prominence as a key tool in its foreign policy. This approach is rooted in several pieces of U.S. legislation and executive orders.

Mandating the U.S. Secretary of State to deny visas to foreign officials and their immediate family members if there is “credible information” that they have been involved, directly or indirectly, in “significant corruption” or a “gross violation of human rights.” The law also allows the Secretary of State to make these designations public, though they often choose to keep them private.

Prior to and following the 2023 Nigerian general elections, the U.S. announced visa restrictions on certain individuals for “undermining the democratic process.”

The then Secretary of State Antony Blinken said these individuals were involved in activities such as “intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process.”