Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has made it clear that the country has rejected efforts by the United States to pressure Nigeria into accepting deported Venezuelans, including individuals who had been imprisoned. Tuggar stated that with Nigeria’s population of over 230 million, the country faces enough internal challenges and cannot take on the burden of receiving deportees from other nations.
Speaking during an interview on national television, Tuggar addressed concerns that the recent 10% tariff imposed by the U.S. on Nigerian exports, along with stricter visa policies, were linked to Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS summit. He explained that these actions by the U.S. were not necessarily a direct response to Nigeria’s foreign policy decisions but part of broader global dynamics.
Tuggar also clarified that Nigeria had not imposed any restrictive visa measures against the U.S., pointing out that Nigeria continues to offer multiple-entry visas to American citizens and has introduced e-visas to make the application process faster and more efficient.
Regarding the issue of deportations, Tuggar warned that accepting deported Venezuelans from the U.S. could set a dangerous precedent and open the door to further unreasonable demands. He stressed that it would be unfair to expect Nigeria to take in people who have no ties to the country, especially those being released directly from prison.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria’s resources are already stretched thin, and any decision to accept such deportees would not be in the best interest of the nation or its people.
