eritvnews: Latest News: Tension Reduced As US Ambassador To Nigeria Reacts To Claims Nigerians Will Be Affected By Trump’s Travel Ban

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington has said that the executive order signed by President Donald Trump will not affect Nigerians, noting that visa applicants will continue to get two-year multiple entry visas as before.

Stuart Symington 

It assured apprehensive Nigerians that the order on “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” would not also affect the validity of visas held by Nigerians, noting that its visa policy to Nigeria had not changed.

Symington and the US Embassy Consular Chief, Meghan Moore, explained to journalists on Friday in Abuja that the US visa policy was based on reciprocity, stressing that Nigerians would not be discriminated against.

The envoy stated that the way US treats Nigeria is reflected in its visa policy to Nigerians.

Responding to questions about apprehension that Nigerian Muslims might be singled out for visa restriction over their religious belief, Symington stated that America does not discriminate against people on the basis of their belief or race.

He said, “No place has opened doors to people more than the US. We haven’t said we have closed the doors and locked it, what we said is that we are going to take a pause and conduct checks and ensure the safety of the people in the United States. The door would be opened again. “I want to reassure by our actions starting from our consulate reception in Abuja and in Lagos that we would not discriminate on the basis of religion. If anyone didn’t get a US visa because they said their name was Paul or something, then they would be wrong.”