U.S. Partially Suspends Visa Issuance for Nationals of 19 Countries Starting January 1

The U.S. Department of State announced that, effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, it will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to nationals of 19 countries, in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled "Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States."

The affected countries are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The partial suspension applies to non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all immigrant visas.
Limited exceptions include:
Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not subject to the suspension
Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for certain U.S. government employees
Participants in major sporting events
Lawful permanent residents of the United States
The measures aim to address deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing, citing factors such as visa overstay rates and other national security considerations.
No previously issued visas will be revoked under the proclamation. For more details, visit the U.S. Department of State's website or the relevant U.S. embassy.

US Expands Travel Restrictions, Suspends Green Card and Citizenship Applications for Nigerians

The United States government has expanded its travel restrictions on Nigerians, now suspending legal immigration applications, including green cards, naturalisation, and other permanent residency pathways. This means Nigerians can no longer submit or have their applications processed for these programs.

According to CBS News, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the suspension in line with President Donald Trump’s recent proclamation, which initially imposed partial travel restrictions on several developing countries, including Nigeria.

The earlier restrictions affected nationals seeking entry on B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas. The latest suspension extends beyond Nigeria to include countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, as well as Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Nationals of these countries will no longer be able to apply for US citizenship or permanent residency. US authorities cited national security concerns as the reason for the travel bans, explaining that a “general lack of stability and government control” in these countries makes it difficult to properly vet applicants or assess potential security threats.

USCIS further stated it is “conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the U.S., including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation.” The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the expanded restrictions but has previously expressed its willingness to collaborate with the US in addressing concerns related to immigration and security.

Nigerians now banned from travelling to US as Trump expands travel restriction list

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, December 16, signed a proclamation further restricting entry into the United States for nationals of countries identified as high risk due to what the White House described as persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting and information sharing that threaten national security and public safety.

Among the 15 additional countries placed under partial entry restrictions is Nigeria. The decision was announced in a fact sheet published on the White House website on December 16, 2025, titled “President Donald J. Trump Further Restricts and Limits the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”.

The White House said the move was aimed at strengthening national security through what it called common sense restrictions based on data.

The proclamation maintains full entry restrictions on nationals from the original 12 countries previously listed under Proclamation 10949. These countries are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

It also introduces full restrictions on five additional countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, have now been placed under full restrictions.

Nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Togo and Venezuela remain subject to partial restrictions.

In addition, the proclamation imposes partial entry restrictions on 15 more countries. These include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The fact sheet states that exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve United States national interests.

Super Eagles’ Flight to Uyo Delayed After Aircraft’s Windscreen Cracked Mid-Air.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Super Eagles’ return to Uyo for Tuesday’s decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic was delayed after their aircraft developed a cr+cked windscreen mid-air.

The ValueJet Airline plane, which had earlier flown part of the team to Polokwane for the match against Lesotho, made an emergency return to Luanda, Angola, shortly after takeoff during a refuelling stop.

According to the NFF Communications Department, the pilot acted swiftly to ensure the safety of all passengers, and the aircraft landed safely back in Luanda without casualties.

The incident occurred as the team was heading home following a 2–1 away win over Lesotho, a result that boosted Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The victory lifted the Eagles to third place in Group C with 14 points, behind Benin Republic (17) and South Africa (15).

The NFF stated that ValueJet, in coordination with the Federal Government, the Ministers of Aviation and Foreign Affairs, and the Chief of Staff to the President, is working urgently to secure permits for a replacement aircraft from Lagos to transport the delegation to Uyo.

Tuesday’s fixture is seen as a must-win for Nigeria. Only group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up advance to the playoffs.

To keep their qualification hopes alive, the Super Eagles must defeat Benin Republic and hope South Africa drops points in their final game. Anything less would end Nigeria’s bid to return to the world stage after missing Qatar 2022.

The clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is being viewed as a defining moment for the three-time African champions, who are determined to reclaim national pride and secure a place at FIFA 2026.

The aircraft conveying Nigeria’s Super Eagles from South Africa to Uyo for their final World Cup qualifier against the Benin Republic made an emergency landing in Luanda, Angola, on Saturday after developing a technical fault mid-air.

4 African Countries Flagged for Cybercrime as Interpol Makes 260 Arrests.

Interpol has arrested 260 people in a crackdown on online fraud across Africa, with four countries identified as key hotspots for cybercrime.

The operation, called Operation Contender 3.0, took place between July 28 and August 11, 2025, and involved security agencies in 14 African nations.

This is a growing threat online
The sweep focused on crimes such as romance scams and sextortion, which have been on the rise across the continent.

These schemes trick people into sending money or intimate content, which criminals later use for blackmail. Investigators reported that victims lost about $2.8 million, with some funds recovered during the operation.

Authorities also dismantled 81 cybercrime infrastructures and seized more than 1,200 devices, including laptops, phones, forged IDs, SIM cards, and USB drives used by fraudsters. Interpol said the arrests show how online platforms are increasingly being exploited by criminal groups to target vulnerable people, causing both financial and emotional damage.

Four hotspot countries that stood out Although arrests were made across several countries, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Angola were highlighted as major hubs where cybercrime networks were most active.

Ghana recorded the highest number of arrests, with 68 suspects taken into custody. Police also seized 835 electronic devices and traced $450,000 in losses linked to scams. Some $70,000 of this money was successfully recovered. Most of the schemes involved fake courier and customs stories used to trick victims into paying fees.

Senegal arrested 22 people accused of running a network that impersonated celebrities on social media. The suspects reportedly defrauded 120 victims of about $34,000. Police seized dozens of forged IDs, devices, and money transfer records.

Nigeria does not appear on the list of the top 10 African countries with the highest IMF credit outstanding as of July 21, 2025. That ranking includes nations such as Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Angola, and others—but Nigeria is absent (Business Insider Africa).

Reports also confirm that Nigeria has repaid its major IMF obligation, including the $3.4 billion emergency COVID-19 loan, which was fully settled by April 2025 (Reuters).

In short, Nigeria is not only missing from the IMF’s top debtor list but has also taken concrete steps to clear its outstanding commitments to the Fund.

Angola has big problems like high unemployment and poor public services. Still, the U.S. and Europe continue to support the current regime in Angola . The West ignores protests and cares more about making money than bringing stability in the country! Wake up Africa !

US considers imposing visa ban on Nigeria, 24 other African countries
Aside Nigeria, other African countries listed in the memo are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, and Niger.