Nigeria has ‘Enough Problems’ and Can’t Take Deportees from US, Minister Says

Nigeria has ‘Enough Problems’ and Can’t Take Deportees from US, Minister Says

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has firmly rejected U.S. pressure to take in Venezuelan deportees, saying the country is already dealing with its own challenges.

Speaking to Channels TV, a private Nigerian station, Tuggar said Nigeria would not agree to host foreign prisoners from the U.S. “We already have over 230 million people. It would be unfair to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees,” he stated.

The minister criticized recent U.S. visa restrictions, calling them a form of pressure rather than a fair diplomatic move. The U.S. Department of State recently limited most Nigerian, Ethiopian, and Cameroonian visas to single-entry and only three months, citing a global “reciprocity realignment.”

Tuggar pointed out that this move was not mutual and suggested it was linked to the U.S. push to deport Venezuelans. He added, “It’s hard for a country like Nigeria to absorb prisoners from another nation. We have enough problems already.”

He warned that accepting these deportees would only bring more criticism to Nigeria, especially from those now pushing the idea.

At the same time, President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on nations supporting BRICS, a global alliance of developing countries aiming to reduce Western dominance. The BRICS group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Although Nigeria is not a full BRICS member, it joined as a partner in January.

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Tuggar clarified that the U.S. tariff threat isn’t directly tied to Nigeria’s BRICS participation. “But we also know the U.S. is pressuring African countries to accept Venezuelan deportees, including prisoners,” he said.

Instead of accepting deportees, Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria prefers to strengthen trade with the U.S., especially in energy and mining. “Nigeria has natural gas, rare earth minerals, and other resources that American tech companies need. That’s where we want to work together,” he said.

When asked about Nigeria’s diplomatic steps, Tuggar explained that discussions with U.S. officials are ongoing to resolve issues.

His remarks follow a report by The Wall Street Journal, which claimed the Trump administration is urging several African nations—like Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau—to take in migrants that the U.S. wants to deport.

President Trump seemed to refer to this during a meeting with leaders from the five countries. “We hope to reduce visa overstays and move forward with safe third-country agreements,” he said.

However, Liberia’s foreign minister has denied receiving any such request from Washington.

Nigeria has ‘Enough Problems’ and Can’t Take Deportees from US, Minister Says