Nigeria Government Stands Firm Against U.S. Plans to Deport Third-Country Nationals Amidst Visa Sanctions
The Nigeria government has declared it will not bow to pressure from the United States to accept deportees from countries such as Venezuela and others. This firm stance was made public by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, during an interview with Channels TV on Friday.
According to Tuggar, the Nigeria government is under increasing diplomatic pressure from the U.S. to receive third-country nationals being deported from America a move several African nations are also resisting. Tuggar made his position clear, humorously quoting U.S. rap group Public Enemy: “Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can’t do nothing for you, man.”
This comes in response to the Trump administration’s broader effort to deport migrants and impose visa sanctions on countries that refuse to comply. Recently, the U.S. deported eight men to South Sudan, and reports indicate similar negotiations with other African nations like Rwanda, Benin, Eswatini, and Libya most of whom have denied any agreement.
In a significant diplomatic setback for Nigeria, the U.S. imposed strict visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens this week, reducing the validity of nearly all nonimmigrant and nondiplomatic visas to just three months for a single entry. American officials claim this is part of a global reciprocity adjustment, though Nigerian authorities argue it’s directly linked to the country’s refusal to accept deported foreigners.
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Tuggar reaffirmed that while the Nigeria government is in talks with the U.S. over partnerships in critical sectors such as minerals, oil, and gas, it will not compromise its sovereignty. “We have enough problems of our own. It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan deportees,” he stated.
This bold position from Nigeria follows revelations from the Wall Street Journal that U.S. officials had lobbied five African presidents during a recent White House summit to accept deportees whose home countries rejected them. The summit, officially centered on trade, took a controversial turn as President Trump raised migration policy and faced backlash for a racially insensitive remark directed at Liberia’s president.
The Nigeria government’s firm refusal highlights its commitment to protecting national interests in the face of international pressure.
