Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, says the U.S.’ plan to include all ECOWAS countries in its visa restrictions will tantamount to creating “non-tariff barriers” to trade relations and partnerships.
Tuggar, who is the Chairman, ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) made this known at the 54th Ordinary Session of the MSC at the Ministerial Level in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, recently announced a list 36 countries under the country’s visa scrutiny, many of them being ECOWAS members.
According to the new visa proposal, the affected countries are given a 60-day window to meet new visa requirements or face potential travel bans.
Tuggar, who criticised the proposed policy, warned that it could significantly hinder trade, diplomacy, and regional prosperity between the U.S. and West Africa.
He emphasised that ECOWAS is a region of opportunities with critical resources, and such restrictions would amount to mounting “non-tariff barriers” to potential deals and partnerships between them and the U.S.
“It would, therefore, be a remiss of me if I did not mention the apparent recent decision by the Government of the United States to include all ECOWAS countries in its visa restrictions (Togo was on an earlier list).
“This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals.
“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi,” he said.(NAN)
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