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Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, has affirmed the country's unwavering commitment to providing support for Nigeria. As part of this commitment, the US government has imposed a ban on certain individuals who undermined the 2023 elections. This action follows a promise made almost a year ago by the US government to enforce visa restrictions on individuals who instigated violence during the Nigerian general election.
In a tweet posted on May 15, 2023, Blinken announced the visa restrictions and emphasized the US government's dedication to supporting Nigeria's efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. The tweet read, "We have imposed visa restrictions on specific individuals who undermined the democratic process during Nigeria's 2023 elections. We remain committed to supporting Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and rule of law."
It is worth noting that this warning was initially issued by Michael Gonzales, America's Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, during an international conference held at John Hopkins University in the United States on May 17, 2022. The recent implementation of visa restrictions serves as a concrete step in upholding the commitment to promoting a fair and democratic electoral process in Nigeria.
