Some Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Nigeria have raised concern over the intended plan by the United States government to include Nigeria in the travel ban list.
Speaking on the development to newsmen, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, called for caution on the proposed move by the US.
He stated that there are several implications of the ban on Nigeria
It would be recalled that President Trump had revealed during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that his government plans to include four more African countries including Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, and Eritrea.
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In his statement, Rafsanjani emphasized that;
We believe that the travel ban is not yet in operation. It is still not communicated to the Nigerian government by the American authorities.
However, if this travel ban eventually happens definitely it will have repercussions on those Nigerians who have legitimate businesses in the United States. There are so many Nigerians who are doing business in America and there are so many Americans doing business in Nigeria.
He also called on the Nigerian government to approach the US government to see how both can reconcile the issues that are prompting the planned travel ban.
In his advice to the American government he said instead of corrupt Nigerian government officials, those who have abused human rights and intimidated CSOs and media should be placed on the ban in order to deprive them of enjoying proceeds of loots from public coffers.
Rafsanjani expressed that;
It is necessary for the international community, particularly America to place sanction of a travel ban on corrupt public officials involved in human rights abuses, intimidation of media and civil society organizations. This category of people should actually be deprived of traveling because they are traveling to steal public funds and enjoy and deny those resources for common man use and not innocent people with genuine intention.
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On his part, the Convener, Coalition In Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, CDNDC, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, stated that America should consider that Nigeria had remained its strategic partner, rather should focus on those public office holders who have jeopardized the nation’s democracy at the electoral and judicial levels.
Ariyo said;
If the draft being considered by the Trump administration would place immigration restrictions only on certain government officials and their families and individuals who are undermining rule of law in the country and abusing our democratic process, it is indeed a welcome development.
He also urged the US government to consider protecting ordinary Nigerians traveling to America not to suffer this immigration restriction.
