US Embassy says Nigeria not affected by United States’ new immigration policy

United States of America embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday denied claims that some Nigerians with valid travel documents were denied entry into the U.S and sent back on the next available flight. It also said that Nigeria was not in any way affected by the Executive Order on Immigration.
While dismissing the allegation of refusal of entry into its country as untrue, the U.S urged Nigerians with valid visas, who intend to visit the country to feel free to do so and not postpone or cancel their planned trips.
The statement by the Information Office of the Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja, read in part: “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja wishes to clarify that there is no reason for Nigerians with valid visas to postpone or cancel their travel to the United States.
“Nigeria is not named in the Executive Order on Immigration issued on March 6, and there is no prohibition against Nigerian lawful permanent residents or persons with a valid visa or other U.S. government authorisation from entering the United States.”
Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had on Monday, advised Nigerians without urgent reasons to shelve their visits to the U.S pending a clearer immigration policy.
She gave the advice based on the reports said to have been received by her office to the effect that some Nigerians with valid travel documents were denied entry into the U. S.
This was however, refuted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday saying: “We have absolutely no report whatsoever from the U.S. that our people are being turned back from the U.S. or any of our consulate or any Nigerian that any of our people are turned back.”