Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has defended U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose new visa restrictions on Nigeria and 18 other countries, arguing that foreign policy is driven by national interest, not moral sentiment.
He said criticisms of the move overlook how countries naturally act to protect what they define as their own security and strategic priorities.
In a statement shared on X, Moghalu said Trump’s action aligns with America’s assessment of its interests, whether based on security, economic, military or even moral concerns such as religious freedom. He stressed that the motivations behind such policies are secondary to the reality that every sovereign nation has the right to safeguard its borders and regulate immigration, including restricting illegal entry.
Moghalu urged Nigerians and Africans to focus more on confronting internal problems, particularly insecurity, terrorism and governance failures. He said Nigeria’s porous borders and worsening security situation weaken the country’s moral standing to demand unrestricted access abroad, adding that failure to challenge oppression and poor leadership at home does not create entitlement to opportunities in other countries.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over the U.S. decision to partially suspend visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026.
