✈️ Nigeria's aviation industry just hit some serious turbulence after the US slapped travel restrictions and tighter visa rules on the country. As one of 26 African nations facing either full or partial bans, Nigeria now has to navigate through slower passenger flows and potential flight cuts.
Right now, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are the only two US carriers linking Nigeria to the US. They ran 17 weekly flights and carried over 207,000 passengers in 2024. But with visa approvals becoming a gamble, those numbers are set to dip ⏬.
Temitope Adetunji, a travel consultant, sums up the visa headache:
People don't want to waste their money anymore, because they believe once you apply for a US visa, you get the visa. Getting the visa is by chance or by luck… just denied.
Industry voices like Olumide Ohunayo from the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative are calling for action: appointing an ambassador as a direct contact, and opening talks on economic, cultural, and diplomatic fronts to ease the ban.
According to the White House, these moves are part of broader efforts to strengthen US national security and immigration policies. But for Nigeria's skies, the fallout could be lasting: fewer flight options, heavier ticket prices, and a blow to business and leisure travel.
For now, the focus is on finding a path back to clear skies. Will diplomatic talks lift the ban and get those planes flying full again? Stay tuned 🚀.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
