US Secretary of States, Anthony Blinken

In a move aimed at safeguarding democratic principles, the United States Government has announced the implementation of visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria, citing their involvement in undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, delivered the statement on Monday, which was subsequently published on the official website of the US government.

Blinken affirmed the US commitment to supporting and advancing democracy both in Nigeria and worldwide. He emphasized that the visa restrictions exclusively target certain individuals and are not intended to affect the Nigerian people or the government as a whole. The decision to impose these restrictions falls under the provisions of Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, designed to address those believed to be responsible for or complicit in subverting democracy.

Although no specific names have been released at the time of reporting, the US government revealed that the individuals subject to visa restrictions have been implicated in acts such as voter intimidation through threats and physical violence, manipulation of election results, and other activities that undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.