Visa ban against Nigerians ill conceived, Lai Mohammed tells US

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has said that the speculated plan by the

United States government to add Nigeria to its existing list of visa travel ban

countries was ill conceived.

It added that though the report was speculative, but if it turns out to be true, the

government will respond comprehensively.

Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this, yesterday, in London

during an interview session with Reuters.

The minister is in London to officially engage with international media and other think

tank.

He said, “On the issue of the travel ban our position is that it is still speculative

because we are yet to be communicated. When we are communicated we will

respond comprehensively.

“However, in our view it was not well thought out but based largely on negative

narratives spread by naysayers.

“I know that we are working very well with our neighbours to ensure that terrorism is

addressed. We are working with international community including the European

Union, EU and the US.

“Our advice to the US is that it should have a rethink on the issue because any travel

ban is bound to affect investment and growth in the country and those who will be

affected are the most vulnerable people in Nigeria.”

Last week, there were reports that the Donald Trump administration planned to add

Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania to the list of

countries on US visa travel ban.

Speaking on the border closure, the minister told Reuters that Nigeria took the hard

decision because the neighbours, notably Benin Republic and Niger Republic, failed

to respect the ECOWAS treaty on transit of goods.

“Not only that they are sabotaging the economy of the country but also the security of

the nation was being threatened,” he said.

“Under the guise of smuggling rice, a lot of small arms and light weapons are being

smuggled into the country.”

Mohammed said the border drill had been positive and successful in terms of

revenue, securing the nation and boosting the capacity of the farmers.

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