Nigeria's aviation sector faces fresh turbulence as new US travel restrictions threaten to ground post-pandemic recovery efforts. With 26 African nations now under full or partial bans, Africa's most populous country grapples with tightened visa rules and flight uncertainties in early 2026.
Visa Woes & Economic Ripples
Travel consultant Temitope Adetunji describes a “lottery system” for US visas: “Applicants with solid finances still face abrupt rejections without explanation. People are losing faith – and airlines are paying the price.”
United Airlines and Delta currently operate 17 weekly US-Nigeria flights, carrying over 207k passengers in 2024. But industry experts predict sharp declines this year, potentially leading to route cancellations.
Calls for Diplomatic Solutions
Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative's Olumide Ohunayo urges action: “We need ambassadors appointed and multi-level dialogue – economic, cultural, diplomatic – to ease these restrictions.”
The White House maintains the measures strengthen national security, but critics argue they disproportionately impact Africa’s recovering travel sector. As flight schedules hang in the balance, 2026 looks set to test Nigeria-US relations like never before. 🌍✈️
