The presidency has opted to wait to see how United States President Donald Trump’s plan to expand the travel ban to target Nigeria and other countries will play out before reacting.
America media had reported that the Trump administration was eyeing seven countries for new immigration restrictions three years after its original order, which created an uproar for targeting Muslim-majority nations.
According to the reports, Trump may expand the controversial travel ban with an announcement expected as early as Monday, with Nigeria among the countries under consideration for new restrictions.
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According to the America media, a draft being considered by the Trump administration would place immigration restrictions on the additional seven countries, but not necessarily completely ban all citizens of those nations from entering the United States.
The reports suggested that restrictions could apply only to certain government officials, for instance, or certain types of visas.
Asked to react to the reports, Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed that the president was aware of the reports but said it would not react to speculation.
He said: “Yes we have read the news that the Trump administration is planning to add a host of African, Asian and Eastern European countries to its travel restrictions list as reported by the U.S. media.
“We are not going to react to speculations. We urge you to wait for us to see what unfolds under the new policy, its scope, its reach, the implications and its consequences before we react.”
and then