WorldStage– The United States has imposed visa restrictions on individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.
These restrictions apply to those who have directed, authorized, funded, supported, or carried out such violations and may also affect their immediate family members.
The action is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to address religious freedom violations, aligning with the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
The restrictions are aimed at specific individuals, whose names have not been publicly disclosed by the State Department.
The U.S. Congress is also considering separate legislation that would specifically name groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as “Entities of Particular Concern” (EPCs), potentially leading to visa bans and asset freezes for their members.
The U.S. government has engaged with Nigerian officials, including the National Security Adviser and Attorney-General, to address these concerns.
A joint task force is planned to develop an action plan to tackle the issue.
The Nigerian government has generally dismissed claims of state-backed religious persecution, arguing the conflicts are primarily due to resource competition, criminality, and governance issues, not religious targeting.
This action is separate from the general visa reciprocity policy implemented in July 2025, which limited non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas for most Nigerians to a single-entry, three-month validity period.
