Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the United States to reconsider its visa restriction against Nigeria, saying such a measure was inconsistent with both countries’ long-standing bilateral relations.
Atiku also decried the Buhari administration’s handling of the issues that preceded President Donald Trump’s decision to prevent potential Nigerian immigrants to the U.S.
The Trump administration formally announced the policy on Friday, days after multiple reports said it was being considered and Nigeria was a prominent country on the list.
The U.S. authorities said Nigeria was added to the list, which includes repressive states like Eritrea and Myanmar because the Buhari administration had failed to share information critical to fighting terrorism and other crimes.
The policy, which kicks off on February 21, would make it impossible for Nigerians to move to the U.S. to obtain permanent residency.
Thousands of Nigerians move to the U.S. annually, with some statistics putting them at some 22,000, the largest from developing world.
The Buhari government has not yet reacted to the allegations, but a government spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said last week the decision would be studied before a definitive response could be issued.
Atiku on Saturday morning joined other Nigerians to criticise the U.S. step and urged its immediate reversal, hours after the decision was announced late Friday.
Mr Abubakar’s statement as posted on his Twitter handle Saturday morning is reproduced in full below.
“I received with sadness the policy of the government of the United States of America to place @Nigeria on its travel ban list.
“While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the @MBuhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States.
“I urge the government of President @realDonaldTrump to consider the history of US-Nigerian relationships.
“Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US-led coalition during Operation Desert Storm between 1990-1991 when the United States championed the liberation of Kuwait.
“The Trump administration may also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.
“Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the @UN and other multilateral world bodies. This is even as we are perhaps the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, even where we had alternatives.
“Nigerians love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77% of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians. Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America bar none.
“Surely, the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like #Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in two-way traffic.
“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.
“Once again, I call on President @realDonaldTrump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population.”
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