Jeffery Hawkins, U.S. Consul-General, on Thursday, gave reasons why Nigeria was banned from participating in its 2015 Diversity-Visa-Programme registration.

Mr Hawkins told journalists at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, that Nigeria was among other countries that had in the last five years, sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. through the programme.

“As at today, Nigerians have graduated from being under-represented to being a fully well represented group in the U.S,” he said. “There is therefore no longer any need to encourage Nigerians to apply to travel to the U.S. through the Diversity-Visa-Programme. Already there are too many Nigerians in the U.S. that have benefited from this programme.”

The envoy explained that the diversity visa was created to promote countries with low rates of immigration to the US.

He, however, said that the U.S. authorities would continue to give preference to Nigerians travelling to U.S for visits, business transactions, studies and professional engagements.

“All other types of immigration from Nigeria to the US, apart from the diversity visa, would continue unabated,” he said. “Also, let me say that the ban has nothing to do with our relations with Nigeria now, and in the years ahead.”

He also dismissed insinuations making the rounds that the move was to reduce the number of Nigerians travelling to the U.S.

The U.S official also said that the development had “nothing to do with insecurity, activities of Boko Haram and other forms of upheaval in Nigeria”.

The U.S. Department of State recently banned Nigeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and Haiti from participating in the 2015 Diversity-Visa-Programme. Other affected countries are: India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, U. K. and Vietnam.

Ping411: “As at today, Nigerians have graduated from being under-represented to being a fully well represented group in the U.S,” he said. “There is therefore no longer any need to encourage Nigerians to apply to travel to the U.S. through the Diversity-Visa-Programme. Already there are too many Nigerians in the U.S. that have benefited from this programme.”

1MCN: I no know wetin dey even carry people dey go play that kalo-kalo sef. When you loss dem go don use your own cash pay for the papers of the chikiri few wey dem go give visa. That money wey you go use go do DV lottery make you go use am buy recharge card dey sell for junction soon you go fit add sweet, lacasera and gbogbo ti gbo. You go make am. E no dey easy for most people wey go Yankee oo! I never go am shah but I hear say you go just go see fine fine houses finish come back!

In other news, so even countries like UK, Canada and China dey play this kalo-kalo! Chai, Chineke mu eeh, this US don really use nations play Okoso!

moscobabs: was my pastor gave a false prophesy because the MOG told me that I'm gonna win the next US visa lottery,ano go respect this pastor again if I fail to win the Visa lottery ooo!!!

chymystique: I heard Nigeria was included cos we ve nt legalized same sex marriage.. Dunnoo if d rumour is true

St_Obaino: So the END TIME is here for us who wanna go to US through the 2015 lottery.
Just wondering why all my plans to run away from my beloved country keeps failing.

Obama, GEJ n Co God is Watching you all.

Xeedorf: Forget American Visa! Alternative Visa lottery is available e.g Pakistan, Peru, Philippines,Vietnam,Bangladesh,somaila, and Iran/iraq
Kindly call for more info: