By Joy Yesufu
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has expressed grave concerns regarding the recent inclusion of all ECOWAS member states in the latest wave of United States visa restrictions.
He described these policies as major obstacles to trade, diplomatic engagement, and the overall prosperity of the region.
Speaking at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level in Abuja on Wednesday, Tuggar emphasized that such restrictions could hinder efforts to strengthen US-West Africa relations, especially as the region is poised for significant economic and security partnerships.
“It would be most unfortunate if this situation materializes. We are a region of opportunities eager to forge deals. Visa restrictions act as non-tariff barriers to potential agreements.”
He framed the visa policy not just as a diplomatic misstep but also as a lost economic opportunity, highlighting ECOWAS’s vast resource base of critical minerals, including rare earths like Samarium found in his home state of Bauchi.
“We are experts in the Art of the Deal and have been engaged in the international trading system long before the modern state system emerged,” he noted.
Tuggar urged the US to reconsider its stance, reminding them that West Africa offers numerous viable partnerships. “ECOWAS nations and the US have a rare chance to forge a partnership grounded in mutual needs,” he asserted.
He further stated that the region presents a strategic alternative to more remote and politically diverse energy producers.
“We seek prosperity through deals. The crucial question remains: who is willing to seize these opportunities by allowing government officials, technocrats, business executives, and entrepreneurs the freedom to travel and engage in commerce?” he questioned.
In a related note, it has been reported that US President Donald Trump is considering implementing a travel ban on Nigeria and several other nations, predominantly in Africa. The affected countries must comply with new requirements established by the State Department within the next 60 days.
The new list comprises Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
These measures are based on identified benchmarks that the administration believes these countries are failing to meet, including the lack of competent central government authorities to produce reliable identity and civil documents or ongoing government fraud issues
