The United States government has announced an immediate suspension of work visa issuance for foreign commercial truck drivers, a decision that affects applicants from Nigeria and several other countries.
The move, disclosed on Friday, forms part of the Trump administration’s broader review of immigration and labor policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the measure was introduced to address concerns about potential job displacement among American truck drivers as well as road safety standards.
“Protecting the integrity of our workforce and ensuring road safety remain top priorities,” Rubio stated. He noted that while the U.S. recognizes the contributions of foreign workers, the government must strike a balance between labor needs and the welfare of its citizens.
Industry analysts warn that the decision could have significant implications for the logistics and transport sector, which has faced recurring shortages of qualified drivers in recent years. Companies that rely on international recruitment to fill these gaps may now face operational strain.
For many Nigerian applicants, the development comes as a setback. Nigeria has become one of the countries with a rising number of skilled truck drivers seeking employment opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada.
The U.S. Department of Labor has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment to determine long-term policies regarding foreign commercial driver employment. Until then, the visa suspension will remain in force.
Would you like me to extend this into a feature-style analysis—including expert commentary from U.S. trucking associations, Nigerian labor migration data, and policy implications—or keep it strictly as a straight news report?
