The US Government has imposed visa restrictions on “individuals responsible for undermining the Nigerian democratic process.” A spokesperson of the US Department of State, Ms. Morgan Ortagus, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Ortagus explained that the action applied to those responsible for election-related violence. According to her, the unidentified individuals had “operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and undermined democratic principles and human rights.”
“In a January 24 statement, the U.S. government said that we would consider consequences –including visa restrictions– for individuals responsible for undermining the Nigerian democratic process or for organizing election-related violence. To that end, the Secretary of State is imposing visa restrictions on Nigerians believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria.
The spokesperson emphasized that the restrictions targeted at specific individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people or the newly-elected government.
