THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Collins Nweke urges Nigeria and other African countries to respond strategically to the rumoured U.S. visa ban. The public affairs analyst outlines how Abuja can handle the situation in a way that best serves the interests of its citizens.
Rumours, if credible, can be as disruptive as confirmed facts. The reported leaked memo from the office of the United States Secretary of State lists Nigeria among 36 countries facing potential US visa bans. This situation is more than just a footnote in foreign policy gossip. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and a long-standing regional partner of the United States. The implications of such a policy shift for Nigeria demand urgent reflection. It requires thoughtful consideration, not emotional retaliation.
Visa bans are often dressed in national security or immigration control rhetoric. They are rarely about the individuals they directly affect. They send broader geopolitical signals. They declare who is in favour, who is out of step, and who must fall in line.
the popular sentiment is that if Nigeria is indeed being placed on the punitive side of US immigration policy once again, Nigeria should consider retaliation. The temptation to act swiftly and visibly can be strong. At least a prominent former Senator of Nigeria has spoken out in favour of a reciprocal action. But as any seasoned strategist will suggest, in global affairs, the wiser path is often the one less shouted about.
Sovereignty Yes, But Not Symbolism
Reciprocity in diplomacy is a legitimate tool. It affirms sovereignty. It insists on dignity. It sends a message across that not even the most powerful political figure on earth can bully Nigeria. It may also satisfy public sentiment demanding strong national posture. We get all of that. But when the scales of influence and dependence are unbalanced, they do not favour Nigeria. The relationship is unequal between Nigeria and the United States. A tit-for-tat visa ban on American citizens is unlikely to sting Washington. It is more likely to hurt Abuja. Few US citizens seek Nigerian visas. In contrast, countless Nigerians have lives, careers, and dreams intertwined with the United States. Moreover, let us candidly face the factual reality here. Nigeria’s ability for effective enforcement of such a retaliatory visa ban is questionable. The gesture would be symbolic at best. Yet, symbolism without strategic depth is mere posturing.
The Case for Strategic Recalibration
Nigeria’s smarter play lies in recalibrating, not retaliating. That begins with a high-level diplomatic engagement. The Nigerian government must seek immediate clarification from its American counterpart. Not through megaphones, but through mature, backchannel diplomacy. If Nigeria’s inclusion stems from concerns over security or documentation issues, those are areas Nigeria can and should improve. By doing so, it is not to appease Washington. It is to safeguard its global reputation. The good news is that it is already happening. The biometric visa regime is now operational in Nigeria. It has been implemented for over a decade. If the United States is unaware, show it to them. If they are ignoring such positive development, condemn their attitude. The Nigerian-American relationship spans decades of military cooperation, economic engagement, and people-to-people ties. These levers of engagement can be subtly recalibrated. For instance, Nigeria may signal a review of its participation in certain bilateral military or counterterrorism collaborations. This is not to jeopardize regional security, but to remind its partners that relationships must be rooted in mutual respect.
Similarly, Nigeria must start playing the long game by diversifying its alliances. The world is shifting into a multipolar order. The time has come for Nigeria to deepen strategic partnerships. This includes not just the West but also emerging powers like India, Brazil and China. Nigeria must also strengthen regional solidarity within the African Union and ECOWAS. We applaud the current administration for its intentional shuttle diplomacy. Many applaud because its value in deepening and diversifying strategic partnerships is unquantifiable.
A Wake-Up Call for Domestic Reform
This episode, whether real or rumoured, must also serve as a mirror for introspection. If Nigeria is perceived globally as a migration or security risk, then its internal systems of governance need urgent reform. The documentation processes also need immediate improvement. Additionally, Nigeria’s diplomacy efforts must be reformed without delay. The Nigerian Immigration Service must upgrade its capacities. The diplomatic missions must engage in proactive image-building. The Diaspora is Nigeria’s most powerful soft power asset. It must be genuinely mobilised to advocate for access. It must also promote fairness and respect in host countries. Let it be clear: Nigeria’s Diaspora remits over $20 billion annually, fuels innovation, and builds bridges of understanding between nations. If that is not strategic capital, what is?
Leverage Multilateral and Regional Platforms
Though it delivers no immediate advantage, Nigeria should see this as a chance to enhance its moral and diplomatic leverage. This is ideal for long-term strategy but not enough as an immediate reciprocal action. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as current rotational Chairman of ECOWAS must call a regional dialogue on Western immigration policies. It could consider raising concerns at the African Union (AU): to foster collective African response or solidarity. It must also investigate if the visa ban affects businesspersons and violates trade facilitation principles. If infractions can be proven, Nigeria must consider making a formal representation to the United Nations (UN). It should also consider addressing the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Putting Nigeria First, Always
In this moment, the real challenge is not America’s rumoured decision, but Nigeria’s response. Do we rise to the occasion with maturity, or stumble into the trap of populist chest-thumping? A reciprocal action must not be equal in method but equal in meaning. And the most meaningful message Nigeria can send is this: we are not just a recipient of global policy. We shape global policy. We will act not out of wounded pride but strategic necessity. We will not match bluster for bluster but build the global stature that makes future slights diplomatically unthinkable.
As the world watches, Nigeria must show that it chooses strategy over spite. It opts for reform over revenge. It prioritizes leadership over lamentation. That is the reciprocity that matters most.
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The author, Collins Nweke, is a dual citizen of Belgium and Nigeria. He is a former Green Party Councillor at the Ostend City Council and a former chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE). Nweke is a public affairs analyst.
