US Slams Visa Restrictions on Nigerians Accused of Violating Religious Freedom
The United States has announced a new round of visa restrictions targeting Nigerians deemed responsible for violating religious freedom, in what Washington describes as a firm response to rising attacks and persecution based on faith across parts of the country.
The policy, announced by the US State Department, will apply to individuals who “knowingly direct, authorize, support, or participate in” religious-freedom violations, with the possibility of extending penalties to their immediate family members.
According to the US, the restrictions are aimed at perpetrators of anti-religious violence, including those involved in attacks against Christian communities, funding or supporting extremist activities, or enabling religious persecution through their positions of authority.
The State Department said the measures fall under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision that allows Washington to deny entry to foreign nationals considered responsible for undermining human rights or religious liberties.
The announcement comes amid what US officials describe as troubling patterns of violence, particularly in northern and central Nigeria, where clashes between armed groups, extremists, and local communities have repeatedly taken on religious dimensions. Rights groups have long accused both state and non-state actors of failing to curb attacks against Christians and Muslims alike, while the US has increasingly signaled frustration with what it sees as inadequate accountability.
This development follows the Biden administration’s earlier decision to re-designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” for religious-freedom violations — a move the Nigerian government strongly rejected, arguing the designation was based on “misleading or outdated” information.
The latest visa restrictions are expected to heighten diplomatic tensions, especially as the US did not publicly release the names of affected individuals.
Washington says the measure is part of a broader effort to pressure governments and actors around the world to uphold religious rights, while signaling that those who engage in or enable persecution will face consequences.
The US Embassy in Abuja reiterated that the policy is targeted, not a blanket action against Nigeria, and does not affect ordinary travelers or citizens acting within the law.
Reactions from Nigeria’s government are expected in the coming days, as the restrictions add new weight to an already sensitive debate about religious intolerance, security failures, and international scrutiny of the country’s human-rights record.
