West African nations risk losing vital trade and investment opportunities if the United States proceeds with visa restrictions across the region, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar warned on Tuesday.
Speaking in Abuja during a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Foreign Ministers, Tuggar said such restrictions would act as “non-tariff trade barriers” and jeopardise economic cooperation.
“If these visa restrictions are extended, they will undermine progress and limit our ability to forge strong economic partnerships,” Tuggar told Reuters in an interview. “We are a region of opportunities, ready to do deals.”
The warning follows reports that the US government is considering expanding visa sanctions to up to 36 countries, including many in the ECOWAS bloc. The move is reportedly tied to concerns over documentation, security screening and the repatriation of nationals who overstay their visas or enter illegally.
The US State Department has issued diplomatic notices to affected countries, demanding improved compliance within 60 days or risk being added to a restricted travel list. Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Niger are among the West African countries reportedly affected.
Tuggar argued that such restrictions would negatively impact sectors critical to West Africa’s future, including energy, rare earth minerals, and digital infrastructure.
“For instance, Nigeria holds deposits of samarium, a rare earth mineral used in military-grade magnets and nuclear reactor control rods,” he noted. “This could form the basis for strategic cooperation, not separation.”
He also emphasised that the region’s stability makes it a reliable partner for the United States.
“West Africa can be a strategic and politically stable energy partner,” Tuggar said. “Imposing these travel barriers now will hinder long-term relations and trade development.”
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The visa issue arises as West African leaders work to deepen regional integration through policies like visa-free travel, shared infrastructure, and common security frameworks. Analysts warn that US-imposed restrictions could complicate these efforts and limit access to educational, economic, and diplomatic opportunities for millions of citizens.
The African Union has also voiced concern over the impact of such measures, warning they could damage broader US-Africa relations.
Despite the threat, Tuggar remains optimistic that dialogue could lead to a reversal of the proposed visa policies.
“We believe in diplomacy,” he said. “We hope the United States will reconsider, based on mutual respect and shared interest in peace and prosperity.”
