The passenger motion between Nigeria and the United State is anticipated to decelerate as quickly because the visa ban imposed on Nigeria by the US is applied, stakeholders within the journey business have famous.
That is coming after the current passenger increase on the Nigeria-US route with American Airways growing their frequencies.
Nonetheless, the visitors between the 2 international locations is anticipated to be considerably impacted by the visa ban which takes impact on January 1st 2026.
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The US embassy in Nigeria has introduced the suspension of visa issuance for Nigerians with impact from January 1, 2026.
This adopted the current US Division of State’s announcement that efficient January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, it would partially droop the issuance of visas for nationals of 19 international locations, together with Nigeria, Angola, Cuba, Venezuela, and a number of other others.
Efficient January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in keeping with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Proscribing and Limiting the Entry of Overseas Nationals to Defend the Safety of america,” the Division of State had introduced that’s partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 international locations – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 customer visas and F, M, J scholar and alternate customer visas, and all immigrant visas.
Nonetheless the US Embassy in Nigeria reiterated the suspension on Monday, informing potential candidates of the brand new growth.
The embassy mentioned, “Efficient January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in keeping with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Proscribing and Limiting the Entry of Overseas Nationals to Defend the Safety of america,” the Division of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 international locations – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 customer visas and F, M, J scholar and alternate customer visas, and all immigrant visas with restricted exceptions for:
- Immigrant visas for ethnic and non secular minorities going through persecution in Iran
- Twin nationals making use of with a passport of a nationality not topic to a suspension
- Particular Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. authorities staff beneath 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
- Contributors in sure main sporting occasions
- Lawful Everlasting Residents (LPRs).”
Day by day Belief experiences that the Nigeria-US route is without doubt one of the viable worldwide routes operated by international airways.
Presently, two US-based carriers – Delta and United – function direct flights between Nigeria and the US whereas different international airways like Ethiopian Airways, Egypt Air, British Airways, Kenya Airways, amongst others additionally fly to the US by way of their numerous hubs.
In 2024, the Open Sky settlement between Nigeria and the US formally got here into impact 20 years after the settlement was signed with Nigerian airways lacking out of the US-Nigeria increase.
The US Embassy in Nigeria on Could 17, 2024 introduced that the “U.S.-Nigeria Air Transport Settlement, which has been provisionally utilized since 2000, entered into power on Could 13, 2024.”
Based on the assertion, “This bilateral settlement establishes a contemporary civil aviation relationship with Nigeria according to U.S. Open Skies worldwide aviation coverage and with commitments to excessive requirements of aviation security and safety.”
“The settlement consists of provisions that enable for unrestricted capability and frequency of companies, open route rights, a liberal constitution regime, and open code-sharing alternatives.
“This settlement with Nigeria is a step ahead in liberalizing the worldwide civil aviation sector in Africa and additional expands our sturdy financial and industrial partnership, promotes people-to-people ties, and creates new alternatives for airways, journey firms, and prospects.
“With this settlement, air carriers can present extra inexpensive, handy, and environment friendly air companies to vacationers and shippers, which in flip promotes tourism and commerce.”
The settlement implies that Nigerian airways can have unfettered entry to the US airspace, flying to any nation in America and forging partnerships with US carriers.
Nonetheless, regardless of Nigerian airways’ absence on the route, the US-Nigeria stays one of many viable routes with passengers trooping for companies, training and leisure.
However many college students planning to enrol in any US academic establishment must cancel the plan for now as quickly because the visa ban takes impact.
Visa ban, a setback – Journey Brokers
Talking with our correspondent, President of the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian Journey Companies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami mentioned the current visa ban would decelerate visitors on the route.
He nevertheless said that the following factor is for Nigerians to go to the place they’re needed as they’re sure to respect the legal guidelines of the US.
“The visa ban would positively affect visitors and visitors would have a consequent impact on the patronage of American airways or journey to America.
“When the ban comes into impact, it would positively affect visitors. Even the restriction of visa to 3 months is already having an impact on visitors to the US,” he mentioned.
Based on him, “what America is mainly telling us is that we must always go the place we’re needed and that has at all times been my place as a Nigerian. We should always at all times go the place we’re welcome.”
He said that Nigerians are good folks and the entire world would welcome them anytime, including, “However within the meantime, we now have to respect the legal guidelines of their land, that’s their immigration coverage and we now have to respect it.”
“From commentary and expertise, the visitors has dropped,” Folami added.
Additionally talking, aviation analyst, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick said that the ban would allow folks to find different locations to journey to other than the US.
He nevertheless famous that the impact of the visa ban may be minimal on flight operations between the 2 international locations as there are lots of US nationals who would wish to return residence.
“Once I was rising up, folks have been going to Europe, not America. Then America opened up as a result of their universities wanted the cash. It’s their universities that may really feel the Trump impact as a result of they’re making billions from Africa. It’s America that may lose often because the sum of money folks from Africa and Asia are spending on the training of their kids is way,” he added.
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