A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, Timi Frank, has called on the United States to permanently deny visas to individuals opposed to democratic process in the county.
In a statement issued on Friday, Frank urged the U.S. government and the international community to take firm action against any citizen or government officials allegedly involved in undermining Nigeria’s democratic processes.
He also called for broader international intervention to ensure accountability and safeguard democratic governance in the country.
Frank argued that beyond such precautionary steps, more decisive actions were needed to address concerns about Nigeria’s democratic environment.
“The international community must not wait until Nigeria descends into crisis or conflict before taking action.
“Any instability in Nigeria, given its population of over 200 million people, could trigger a massive refugee crisis across regions.
“Urgent steps such as placing a visa ban on all anti-democratic forces in the country must be taken to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy,”he said.
Meanwhile, US Principal Adviser for global religious freedom, Mark Walker, has said that the country has implemented the policy which allows the state department to restrict visa issuance to individuals responsible for religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, without naming the affected entities, Walker said, “We have already executed on this policy, and we will continue to subject perpetrators to additional scrutiny.
“If you engage in persecution, you are not welcome in America,” he added. “The United States is safer when we keep those responsible for religious persecution from entering our homeland.”
Olugbenga Ige is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over nine years of professional reporting experience. He is known for his sharp eye for compelling stories and a strong instinct for identifying newsworthy developments. Over the years, Olugbenga has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
