By Abiola Olawale
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed strong opposition to a possible decision by the United States government to implement strict visa restrictions on several countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including Nigeria.
Tuggar declared that the potential restrictions could unravel decades of regional progress, stifle the vibrant trade and cooperation that define West Africa’s economic heartbeat.
Speaking at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS’s Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level in Abuja on Wednesday, Tuggar also warned that the restrictions could stifle efforts to deepen US-West Africa relations, particularly at a time when the region is ripe for economic cooperation and security collaboration.
The minister stated: “It would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals.
“We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals.”
Tuggar tagged the policy not only as a diplomatic misstep but also as an economic missed opportunity, especially given ECOWAS’s vast resource base.
“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi.
“We in this part of the world are students of the Art of the Deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system,” he added.
He further called on US President Donald Trump to re-evaluate his approach, stressing that West Africa is not lacking in potential partners.
“ECOWAS countries and the US have a rare opportunity to create a partnership based on principles of need. We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers.
“We will do deals for our prosperity; the only question is with whom? Who takes up the opportunities in our region by allowing government officials and technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to travel freely back and forth to close the deals?” he questioned.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes amidst reports that Trump is considering imposing a travel ban on Nigeria and a host of other countries, mostly from Africa.
The affected countries are expected to meet new requirements laid down by the State Department within 60 days.
The affected countries included; Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
