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The United States government has revoked more than 600 visas issued to foreign nationals linked to alleged birth tourism schemes, in a major enforcement action targeting organised networks accused of exploiting the country’s immigration and citizenship system.

The move was announced on Tuesday by the United States Department of State, which said the decision forms part of a broader effort to curb illegal birth tourism activities under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Crackdown on Alleged Visa Fraud Networks

According to the State Department, birth tourism involves foreign nationals entering the United States on visitor visas primarily for the purpose of giving birth, so their children automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under the country’s birthright citizenship laws.

Officials said this practice violates visa regulations, which require applicants to state their true travel intentions when applying for entry into the country.

The department explained that investigations uncovered coordinated networks that allegedly assisted applicants in obtaining visas under false pretences, often by concealing their real intention to give birth in the United States.

Visas Revoked Across Multiple Regions

As part of the enforcement action, authorities confirmed that more than 100 visas were revoked in West Africa, over 400 in Europe, and at least 100 in North Africa.

In West Africa, U.S. embassy officials reportedly uncovered an organised group involving more than 100 foreign nationals who allegedly used falsified documents and visa intermediaries to secure entry into the United States.

Following the discovery, the visas were cancelled and the network dismantled in cooperation with local authorities, who are also assisting in tracking related cases.

European and North African Networks Targeted

In Europe, investigators reportedly identified at least six companies linked to more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases recorded since 2024.

These firms were accused of coaching applicants on how to respond during visa interviews, arranging travel logistics, and coordinating hospital plans for childbirth once they arrived in the United States.

U.S. authorities said the visas associated with these cases have now been withdrawn, while those involved in organising the scheme have been permanently barred from entering the country.

In North Africa, more than 100 additional visas were revoked from individuals suspected of travelling primarily for childbirth-related purposes to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.

The State Department said consular officers worked in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and used advanced data analysis tools to detect patterns of abuse and identify coordinated visa fraud operations.

Officials reiterated that obtaining a U.S. visa remains a privilege rather than a right, stressing that applicants must comply fully with immigration rules and disclose accurate information during the application process.

The department added that investigations are ongoing in multiple regions as part of sustained efforts to dismantle birth tourism networks and prevent further abuse of the visa system.

Authorities also warned that individuals found guilty of violating visa regulations could face permanent bans from entering the United States in the future.

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Presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has decried the worsening state of insecurity and governance in Nigeria, lamenting that criminal groups have become so emboldened that they now impose taxes on citizens in some parts of the country.

Duke accused Nigeria’s political leadership of failing to address critical national challenges over the years, arguing that poor governance has created an environment where bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements operate with alarming influence.Politics

The former Cross River State governor made the remarks in Abuja during the presentation of Certificates of Return and party flags to candidates of the PRP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the event, Duke painted a grim picture of the country’s security situation, stating that many communities have been left vulnerable as criminal groups increasingly exert control over local populations.

According to him, the situation has deteriorated to the point where kidnappers and armed gangs collect levies from residents while government authorities struggle to provide effective solutions.

“Our land has become so desolate that bandits, gangsters and kidnappers collect taxes while the government collects excuses,” he said.

The PRP flagbearer cited figures he attributed to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, claiming that Nigerians paid approximately ₦2 trillion in ransom to kidnappers in 2025 alone.

He argued that the amount represents a significant drain on the nation’s resources and reflects the scale of the insecurity challenge confronting the country.

Duke blamed the development on years of leadership failures, insisting that many of Nigeria’s current problems could have been avoided if public officials had consistently prioritised the national interest over political expediency.

“All this is because our leaders failed to do what was right when it was necessary to do so,” he said. “The best politics has always been about doing the right thing, not merely doing what is convenient.”

Promises Safer Communities and Better Education

Outlining his vision for the country, Duke pledged to build a Nigeria where citizens can live and work without fear of violence or abduction.

He said his administration would focus on restoring security, reviving agriculture and improving access to quality education.

According to him, farmers should be able to cultivate their land and return home safely, while children deserve access to conducive learning environments equipped with basic educational facilities.

He also emphasised the need to create opportunities for young Nigerians through policies that encourage economic growth, employment and social development.

‘Time for Ordinary Nigerians to Take Power’

Duke further argued that Nigeria’s traditional political elite have had ample opportunities to lead the country but have failed to deliver the desired transformation.

He said the PRP’s mission is to place power in the hands of ordinary Nigerians, including market women, farmers, artisans, workers and unemployed graduates who bear the brunt of the country’s economic and social challenges.

“The political elite have had their turn. Now it is the turn of the common man, the true Nigerian, the market woman, the farmer and the unemployed graduate,” he declared.

Describing himself as a champion of ordinary citizens, Duke called on Nigerians to unite behind what he termed a movement for national renewal.

While acknowledging that the political battle ahead would be difficult, he expressed confidence that determined citizens could reclaim the country from leaders he accused of prioritising personal interests over public welfare.

“This struggle will not be easy because those benefiting from the current system will resist change. But our resolve is stronger, and our cause is just,” he said.

The remarks come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with opposition figures increasingly focusing on issues of insecurity, economic hardship and governance as key campaign themes.

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… As Former CFO Dismisses Missing Funds Claim, Defends Company’s Accounts

A dramatic session unfolded at the Senate on Wednesday as the Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before lawmakers investigating alleged unaccounted funds amounting to ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
The committee’s directive followed Kyari’s absence from an investigative hearing examining 19 audit queries raised against the national oil company by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

Lawmakers insisted that the former NNPCL chief had repeatedly failed to honour invitations despite several opportunities granted to him.

The hearing took another twist when former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, strongly rejected claims that ₦210 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts. He argued that the figure being cited as unaccounted for exceeded the total revenue generated by the corporation during the period under review.
During deliberations, some committee members urged restraint. Senator Saliu Mustapha and Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany and should be granted another opportunity to appear before lawmakers.

Their plea, however, met stiff resistance from other members of the panel who insisted that verbal explanations were insufficient. Senator Abdul Ningi argued that any claim of illness should be backed by documentary evidence rather than mere verbal assurances.

The strongest push for enforcement came from Senator Victor Umeh, who formally moved a motion calling for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former NNPCL chief. The motion received immediate support from the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi.

Nwaebonyi told the committee that granting Kyari another opportunity to appear voluntarily would amount to chasing shadows. He noted that the committee had already convened nine separate meetings on the matter, with three of them presided over by him, without securing the former NNPCL chief’s appearance.

“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 audit queries raised against NNPCL. The time to issue a warrant of arrest is now because the committee must conclude its assignment and report back to the Senate,” he declared.

Following a voice vote, Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo announced the panel’s decision, directing security agencies to ensure Kyari’s appearance before the committee.
“Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” Dankwambo ruled.
While the committee intensified pressure on the former NNPCL boss, Isa mounted a vigorous defence of the company’s financial records. He described the allegation of ₦210 trillion in missing funds as impossible, insisting that the figures did not align with NNPCL’s audited financial statements.

According to him, the company generated approximately ₦54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, even before accounting for production costs. He argued that it would be mathematically impossible for ₦210 trillion to be missing when the total earnings were significantly lower than the amount being alleged.

“To be clear, if money had gone missing during our tenure, we would not have had the confidence to publish audited accounts. For over four decades, NNPC accounts were either not prepared, not published, or not submitted to the Auditor-General. The fact that audited accounts were released demonstrates transparency,” he said.

Isa also dismissed allegations that ₦5.8 billion was spent on the registration of NNPC Limited, describing the claim as false and harmful. He challenged the committee to verify the matter independently with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Warning against the consequences of inaccurate financial allegations, the former CFO said unsubstantiated claims could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and affect investor confidence. He recalled how a previous petition allegedly disrupted efforts to secure about $2.5 billion in Chinese financing for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project, despite sovereign guarantees backing the deal.
He further urged anti-corruption and intelligence agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, to investigate the allegations thoroughly and establish the facts. “When people claim ₦210 trillion is missing, they should be asked where exactly it went,” he stated.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to return in two weeks as lawmakers continue their probe into the audit queries and the financial operations of the NNPCL during the period under review.