A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed that as many as 448,400 Nigerian immigrants may be directly affected if the United States enforces stricter immigration policies in 2025.
The report, titled Global Economic Policy Changes and Implications for Nigeria, warns that potential policy shifts under the current U.S. administration could disrupt the flow of Nigerian migrants to the country, as well as reduce remittance inflows to Nigeria—a key source of foreign exchange.
According to PwC, Nigerians made up 16.3% of the 2.75 million African-born immigrants living in the U.S. as of 2022, making them the largest African migrant group in the country. Other top African countries with significant migrant populations in the U.S. include Ethiopia (293,100), Egypt (229,200), and Ghana (215,300).
“Stricter U.S. immigration policies could disproportionately impact Nigerian migrants, many of whom travel to the U.S. for education, employment, or family reunification,” PwC stated. “This could in turn affect remittance volumes sent back to Nigeria and increase the strain on local employment and foreign exchange dynamics.”
The PwC report also highlighted growing concerns surrounding the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. During his first term, the Trump administration implemented travel bans on Nigeria and several other countries, citing national security. These restrictions significantly delayed visa processing and limited opportunities for Nigerian students, professionals, and families seeking to migrate.
As fears of renewed restrictions loom, experts suggest that policy reversals could affect everything from student visa issuance to travel and remittance flows. This could have wider economic implications for Nigeria, where diaspora remittances hit $20.93 billion in 2024—an 8.9% increase from the previous year, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
PwC concluded that a policy reversal in U.S. immigration could compound Nigeria’s economic vulnerabilities, especially given the nation’s reliance on diaspora remittances to cushion foreign exchange shortages.
While final policy directions remain uncertain, Nigerian authorities and stakeholders are advised to closely monitor developments and prepare adaptive strategies to mitigate potential fallout.
