Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Yusuf Tuggar, has decried proposed United States visa restrictions on West African countries, warning that such a move could jeopardize trade, diplomacy and regional prosperity.
Tuggar made this statement on Wednesday at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level in Abuja, warning that the new restrictions reportedly affecting all ECOWAS member states risk weakening US engagement in a region primed for economic and security partnerships.
“It would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals. We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals,”; he said.
According to him, the move was not only diplomatically counterproductive but also an economic setback, noting that ECOWAS is rich in critical resources that could bolster global supply chains.
“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi. We in this part of the world are students of the Art of the Deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system,”; the minister added.
While urging Washington to re-examine its approach, Tuggar underscored that ECOWAS remains open to global partnerships but will not wait indefinitely.
The United States is reportedly considering imposing a new wave of travel bans on several African countries, including Nigeria.
According to a memo, the affected nations—among them Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Liberia—are expected to meet updated requirements from the State Department within 60 days.
The memo cited a lack of reliable civil documentation, weak cooperation with US authorities, and concerns over identity verification as reasons for the move.
