Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, has expressed strong concerns over proposed United States visa restrictions targeting West African countries.
Speaking at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level in Abuja on Wednesday, Tuggar cautioned that such restrictions could severely hamper trade, diplomatic engagement, and the broader prosperity of the West African region.
The new visa measures, reportedly set to apply to all member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), risk undermining critical economic and security partnerships between the US and the region. Tuggar described the restrictions as non-tariff barriers that would frustrate efforts to deepen mutually beneficial relationships.
“It would be most unfortunate if these restrictions come into effect,” he stated. “West Africa is a region full of opportunities and eager to engage in deals. We desire to strengthen our ties with the United States, but visa limitations act as impediments to this progress.”
Highlighting the region’s strategic importance, Ambassador Tuggar pointed out ECOWAS’s wealth in essential resources that are key to global supply chains.
“Our region is endowed with critical minerals and rare earth elements, including Samarium extracted from Monazite deposits in my home state of Bauchi,” he explained. “We are experienced players in international trade, having participated in global commerce long before the establishment of the modern nation-state system.”
Urging the US government to reconsider its stance, Tuggar emphasized the potential for a robust partnership grounded in mutual interests and needs. “ECOWAS and the United States stand at a unique crossroads, with an opportunity to forge a partnership based on shared priorities,” he said. “Our region also represents a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers.”
He further stressed that ECOWAS will actively pursue prosperity-enhancing deals, but the question remains: with whom will these partnerships be formed? “The critical factor is who will embrace the opportunities in our region by facilitating the free movement of government officials, technocrats, business leaders, and entrepreneurs necessary to finalize these agreements,” Tuggar added.
The US is reportedly considering a new series of travel bans affecting several African nations, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Liberia. According to an internal memo, these countries are required to comply with updated criteria from the US State Department within 60 days.
The memo cited issues such as inadequate civil documentation systems, poor cooperation with US authorities, and challenges in verifying identities as justifications for the impending restrictions.
Ambassador Tuggar’s remarks serve as a call to Washington to adopt a more collaborative and nuanced approach that recognizes West Africa’s growing economic and diplomatic significance on the global stage.