The United States has restated its commitment to tackling corruption worldwide, warning that Nigerians implicated in graft or electoral malpractice risk being barred from entering the country.
In a post on its official X account on Monday, the US mission in Nigeria said, “Fighting corruption knows no borders or limits on accountability. Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving US visas.”
The statement echoes measures announced in May 2023, when Washington imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Nigerians accused of undermining the country’s general elections. At the time, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said the decision underscored Washington’s support for democratic governance.
“The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world,” Blinken said in a statement. “We have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 election cycle.”
The mission did not disclose names of those affected by the latest warning, but its emphasis that “status or position” offered no protection is likely to be read as a signal to Nigeria’s political and business elite, among whom corruption allegations have long been rife.
