Joe Keshi, Nigeria’s former permanent secretary and minister of foreign affairs, has cautioned that the United States (US) is specifically targeting the flow of global remittances, with its latest crackdown banning 75 countries including Nigeria from obtaining immigrant visas.
Speaking in an interview with Channels TV, he warned that Nigeria must develop a systematic strategy to engage Washington, calling on Nigeria’s federal government to urgently “reflect and understand” the motivations behind the crackdown.
The veteran diplomat highlighted the potential for a domestic economic crisis if these financial pipelines are constricted.
“If we annually receive over $24 billion from Nigerians abroad and remittances are targeted, that is a staggering sum Nigeria stands to lose,” Keshi remarked.
He further warned that many Nigerian families reliant on these funds could “fall below the poverty line” should the flow of capital be disrupted by the new policies by the United States (US).
According to him, there’s a need for proper coordination to find out what Trump has against Nigeria. “A couple of days ago, he said that 30 percent of Nigerians are living off the state which is untrue. Many Nigerians in the US are hardworking and have two to three jobs”, he said.
The move is expected to affect travel, migration and international relations.
A crackdown on ‘public charges’
The ambassador’s warnings come as the US Department of State announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries including Nigeria.
The move represents a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict legal pathways into the US since his return to office.
The State Department justified the measures on Wednesday, framing the policy as a necessary step to “end the abuse” of the American system.
Officials argued that the restrictions are designed to prevent foreign nationals from “extracting wealth” through the use of welfare and public benefits.
Scope of the new restrictions
While the full list of the 75 affected nations remains classified, the order is scheduled to take effect on January 21. Key details of the policy include:
Public charge rule: Potential immigrants deemed likely to become a “public charge” will be ruled ineligible.
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Procedural reassessment: Marco Rubio, US secretary of state has ordered a pause to reassess vetting procedures to prevent “exploitation” of the US social safety net.
Selective suspension: The freeze applies specifically to immigrant visas. Non-immigrant categories, including temporary tourist and business visas currently remain unaffected.
Existing bans: This new measure builds upon previous restrictions already placed on citizens from Brazil, Iran, Russia, Somalia, and Afghanistan.
National security and economic fallout
The administration’s shift toward more aggressive vetting follows a security incident in November involving an Afghan national in Washington, DC. In the aftermath, the White House banned or restricted entry for nationals from 19 countries, a list that has since expanded to include 24 nations and holders of Palestinian Authority documents.
The implications for these nations are severe; not only are new visas on hold, but asylum cases, citizenship processing, and green card applications have also been frozen for the countries initially targeted.
For Nigeria, the concern remains primarily economic. As the Trump administration moves to “protect the generosity of the American people,” the resulting friction may significantly diminish the billions of dollars in private capital sent back each year.
