Did Nigeria suspend mineral deals with US as claimed?
Donald Trump. Picture: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
A viral Facebook post claiming that Nigeria has halted mineral exports to the United States in response to new US travel restrictions is false, according to an investigation by Dubawa.
The post, shared by the account @Dabreezy Dreams Entertainment, featured a 21-minute video alleging that Nigeria was retaliating against Washington’s recent visa restrictions for citizens of 36 countries, including Nigeria. The video, titled “Nigeria strikes back! Mineral blockade after US travel ban,” included footage from the Durban-based outlet Firstpost Africa and commentary suggesting that Nigeria had blocked the US from accessing critical minerals.
The US travel restrictions, announced in June 2025, affect citizens from countries that fail to comply with newly established State Department requirements within 60 days. Other affected countries include Angola, Benin, Egypt, Ghana, South Sudan, and several others.
The Facebook video quickly spread online, garnering over 100,000 views and thousands of comments. Some users supported the claim, suggesting the US would face consequences, while others expressed skepticism about Nigeria’s capacity to impose such a measure.
Verification efforts by Dubawa revealed no credible evidence of a mineral trade suspension. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimebi Ebienfa, condemned the US policy as “unfair and disproportionate,” but made no mention of restricting mineral exports. Neither the US Embassy in Nigeria nor the Nigerian presidential office has confirmed the claim.
Further analysis of the video suggested that the voiceover was likely manipulated. The Facebook account sharing the post is registered in Australia despite claiming Nigerian management, raising further doubts about the authenticity of the content.
Conclusion: According to Dubawa, Nigeria has not suspended mineral deals with the United States. The social media claim is false and misleading, and the US measures remain limited to visa restrictions.
