Visa Restrictions May Affect Family Members of Culpable Nigerians – US

The United States has said it may extend its visa restrictions to the family members of individuals, especially politicians believed to have undermined democracy in Nigeria during the 2019 general elections.

The US Department of State had in a statement on Tuesday announced visa restrictions as consequences for persons believed to be responsible for election-related violence and rights abuses before, during and after the 2019 polls.

It added that while the identities of those who would be affected by the policy could not be revealed in line with US law making visa records confidential, it meant that such individuals were not welcome in the US.

The statement, which was emailed by Nicole Thompson of the State Department Press Office, further read, “Under US law, individual visa records are confidential and we cannot provide details as to who is or will be affected.

“The policy covers those believed to be responsible for or complicit in, undermining democracy, including those responsible for or complicity in the rigging of the electoral process; corruption; vote-buying; intimidation of voters, the media or election observers through threats or acts of physical violence; suppression of peaceful protestors; and threats against judicial independence.