Standup9ja - Envoy Opens Up On Why Some Nigerians Were
Denied Entry At US Airports
The ChargĂ© d’affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in
Washington, Amb. Hakeem Balogun, has stated that several reasons are
responsible for the extreme vetting Nigerians face during entry into the US.
Speaking in an interview with NAN in Washington, Balogun
further added that President Donald Trump’s travel ban did not affect Nigerians.
He said, “The
executive ban on immigration does not affect Nigerians. Whatever must have
taken place regarding visa issuance, vetting at the airports, it’s all normal.
“All these things
have been on even before President Trump. Let’s get one thing well. That you
are issued visa is not a guarantee that you will end up wherever you’re going.
“It’s a global
thing; it’s not just United States. Even with us in Nigeria, we issue a visa to
you here in the Nigerian Embassy.
“There is no
guarantee that you will get in when you get to Murtala Muhammed Airport or when
you get to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.”
“The final
authority is the man at the point of entry – immigration officers there. For
instance, you can come to the Embassy here, we ask for all the things you need
to get the visa.
“How much do you
have that we feel will be enough for you to stay in Nigeria for the period
you’re going.
“May be as at that
time, you were able to show us evidence that you have a thousand dollars which
we feel will be enough for you to stay in Nigeria.
“By the time you
get to Murtala Muhammed Airport, the man at that end there asked you, all you
have to show to him is 100 dollars, definitely, he might turn you back, and
that’s normal.”
Balogun also said Nigerians are restricted from entering the
US because they failed to meet other required procedures.
He continued:
“Then there are other things. What manner of visa did you collect to come to
the United States?
“For instance, a
pregnant woman who comes to the United States on visiting visa will probably be
turned back at the point of entry because she does not have a medical visa.
“You are coming in
on a visiting visa and the immigration man sees you pregnant. Naturally, he
will turn you back.
“Even if you have
the medical visa, they want to know if you have medical insurance; do you have
your medical documents for you to be able to come and use their medical
facilities here.
“So these are
issues. Nigeria is not being singled out. We are not one of those countries
that have been mentioned. We are definitely not one of them.”
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