Nigeria has firmly declined a request from the United States to accept deportees from Venezuela, some of whom were reportedly released directly from prisons. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar made this disclosure while speaking at the BRICS summit in Brazil, stressing that Nigeria cannot serve as a dumping ground for foreign deportees with no ties to the country.
Tuggar explained that despite pressure from Washington, Nigeria refused the request, citing its already massive population of over 200 million and the domestic challenges the country faces. He described the proposal as inappropriate and warned that accepting such deportees could open the door to further burdens being placed on Nigeria and other African nations.
The minister suggested that the recent tightening of U.S. visa rules and tariffs on Nigerian products may be linked to the country’s rejection of the deportation request. He refuted claims that Nigeria’s updated visa policies triggered U.S. retaliation, noting that Nigeria still offers multiple-entry visas to Americans and has simply transitioned to an online application system to streamline the process.
Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria is actively engaging with U.S. authorities to resolve any misunderstandings, while also defending the country’s sovereign right to decide who it accepts within its borders.
