Afrigather 
The US (US) has imposed visa restrictions on some Nigerians accused of undermining democracy, noting that this was a part of the motion to advance democracy and deal with corruption in Nigeria.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who disclosed this in an announcement on Wednesday, January 25, stated that the sanctioned people, whose names he didn’t reveal, could be ineligible for the US visa.
The highest-ranking diplomat additionally defined that some members of the family of these barred from the US could also be subjected to the identical restriction, PUNCH studies.
He acknowledged, ”We’re dedicated to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and all over the world. At present, I’m saying visa restrictions on particular people in Nigeria for undermining the democratic course of in a latest Nigerian election.
‘’Underneath Part 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these people will probably be discovered ineligible for visas to the USA beneath a coverage to limit visas of these believed to be liable for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria.
‘’Sure members of the family of such individuals can also be topic to those restrictions. Extra individuals who undermine the democratic course of in Nigeria—together with within the lead-up to, throughout, and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections—could also be discovered ineligible for U.S. visas beneath this coverage.’’
Blinken clarified that the visa restriction was not focused on the Nigerian folks or the federal government.
He described it as a mirrored image of the US authorities’s dedication to supporting Nigeria’s aspiration to fight corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of legislation.
‘’The visa restrictions introduced right now are particular to sure people and aren’t directed on the Nigerian folks or the Authorities of Nigeria. The choice to impose visa restrictions displays the dedication of the USA (US) to help Nigerian aspirations to fight corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of legislation,’’ the statement stated.
The event is coming barely two months after the political counselor on the US Embassy in Nigeria, Rolf Olson, stated that the US would impose visa sanctions on individuals who attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic course of.
Talking on the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship alumni affiliation seminar final November (2022), Olson stated sanctions had been positioned on individuals who undermined the nation’s election earlier than and could be repeated within the subsequent election.
He stated, ‘’Even a small variety of troublemakers could cause substantial havoc to an election. It takes a complete effort to attempt to remove using violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
“People in search of to undermine the democratic course of, together with by means of violence, could also be discovered ineligible for visas to the USA. We have now imposed visa restrictions prior to now in opposition to these liable for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic course of, and stay totally keen to take action once more within the context of the upcoming elections.”
