Nigeria has flatly rejected efforts by the United States government to pressure African nations into accepting deported Venezuelan nationals—many of them reportedly ex-convicts—with Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar declaring that the proposal is not only unacceptable but also unfair to Nigerians.
Tuggar made this disclosure on Friday evening during an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he also addressed concerns about escalating diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the U.S., including the recent imposition of a 10% tariff on Nigerian goods and visa restrictions.
According to Tuggar, the U.S. has been lobbying several African nations, including Nigeria, to receive deportees of Venezuelan origin, many of whom have served time in American prisons. He insisted that Nigeria, already grappling with its internal security and socio-economic challenges, cannot accommodate such a request.
“It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own… We already have 230 million people,” Tuggar said pointedly.
He added that it would be hypocritical for critics to condemn the Nigerian government for agreeing to such a deal, noting that any attempt to offload foreign convicts into Nigeria could spiral into a new wave of security concerns and public backlash.
Tuggar also downplayed suggestions that the recent 10% tariff imposed on Nigerian exports by U.S. President Donald Trump was directly linked to President Bola Tinubu’s participation in the BRICS summit in Brazil. He urged caution in drawing conclusions, pointing out that multiple geopolitical dynamics could be influencing Washington’s trade decisions.
“The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with our participation in BRICS,” he said, noting that international diplomacy often involves a combination of strategic interests, not singular events.
Trump had earlier in the week hosted leaders from five West African countries — excluding Nigeria — at the White House, further fueling speculation of a diplomatic snub amid rising trade restrictions.
Tuggar also addressed recent changes in the U.S. visa regime for Nigerians, which saw the reduction of visa validity to a single-entry, three-month term. While the U.S. claimed the decision was based on reciprocity, Tuggar rejected that narrative.
“We are talking to the Americans. We issue them five-year multiple-entry visas, just like they do. What Nigeria has done is simply to introduce electronic visas to ease the process,” he explained.
He clarified that while first-time tourists may receive 90-day visas, long-term multiple-entry visas are still available for U.S. citizens visiting Nigeria. “It is not a blanket 90-day limit,” he stressed.
The tension between Nigeria and the U.S. appears to be growing on multiple fronts — from trade tariffs and visa restrictions to strategic exclusion from high-level diplomatic meetings. Tuggar’s strong stance underscores Nigeria’s intent to assert its sovereignty, even in the face of mounting external pressure from a global superpower.
Diplomatic watchers believe the rejection of the Venezuelan deportee request could mark a new chapter in Nigeria-U.S. relations — one where Abuja insists on mutual respect and national interest over geopolitical pressure.
Over the past year, the U.S. government has been trying to reduce its migrant population by negotiating with third countries to accept deportees from Venezuela, especially those who entered illegally or were convicted of crimes. African countries, with weaker border systems and limited diplomatic leverage, have reportedly been targeted for such deals.
However, Nigeria’s refusal could signal to other African nations that they are not obligated to serve as geopolitical dumping grounds in global migration conflicts.