ABUJA, June 18 (Chatnewstv.com) — Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar on Wednesday warned that the country could retaliate by restricting access to its critical minerals if Nigeria is included in an expanded US travel ban, saying such a move would jeopardize key energy and mining partnerships with Washington.
The warning comes as President Donald Trump’s administration considers broadening its controversial immigration ban to cover more countries, including Nigeria, amid a wider crackdown on undocumented migration and security concerns.
“This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals,” said Tuggar, who also chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Foreign Ministers.
Trump’s recent agreement with China, allowing exports of rare earth minerals in exchange for student visa access, has raised concerns among African leaders that US economic and immigration policies are increasingly transactional.
“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths,” Tuggar said at a ministerial meeting in Abuja. He cited samarium, a rare earth element used in military technology and nuclear reactor control rods, found in his home state in Nigeria.
“We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals,” he added.
Tuggar said Nigeria and the broader West African region, rich in oil, gas, and strategic minerals, could offer the US a stable and friendly alternative to more politically fraught suppliers.
“We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers. So, we will do deals for our prosperity. The only question is with whom,” he said.
US officials have defended the travel restrictions, citing failures in identity verification, corruption, and high rates of visa overstays as justifications for the bans.
But Nigerian officials argue the policy risks undermining bilateral cooperation just as Washington is seeking deeper engagement on trade and security in Africa.
By Gabriel Ani
