Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria will not succumb to pressure from the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees or third-country prisoners from the United States, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has affirmed.
In a candid interview with Channels Television, Tuggar underscored Nigeria’s refusal by invoking the lyrics of 1990s American rap group Public Enemy. “In the words of the famous US rap group… Flava Flav once said: ‘I can’t do nothin’ for you, man,’” the minister quipped, emphasizing the country’s already heavy population burden.
“We already have over 230 million people. It will be unfair for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees,” he said, adding that the U.S. threats of visa restrictions and tariffs amount to undue diplomatic pressure.
The minister’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following Washington’s latest move to impose stricter visa regulations on Nigerians. Under a new policy announced by the U.S. Department of State, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerians—and citizens of Cameroon and Ethiopia—will now be limited to single entry and valid for only three months. The U.S. claims the changes are based on “technical and security benchmarks.”
Tuggar, however, suggested the visa curbs are a form of retaliation for Nigeria’s refusal to cooperate with America’s deportation requests. He warned that any decision to accept Venezuelan prisoners would not only be diplomatically reckless but would also spark domestic criticism.
“You will be the same person that will castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria,” he told interviewers.
The Trump administration is reportedly pushing several African nations—including Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau—to accept deportees from the U.S., especially individuals whose home countries have refused or delayed their return. According to The Wall Street Journal, this approach reflects a growing overlap between the U.S. deportation campaign and its foreign policy.
Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti denied involvement in such an agreement, stating in a BBC interview: “We have not had discussions about deportees or criminals coming to Liberia.”
At a recent White House summit, President Donald Trump appeared to reference the proposal, urging African leaders to support efforts to reduce visa overstays and cooperate on third-country deportation deals.
Though Nigeria is not a full member of the BRICS alliance, it became an official partner earlier this year. The U.S. has also warned of economic repercussions—such as a 10% tariff hike—on countries aligning with BRICS policies contrary to American interests. Tuggar dismissed any suggestion that Nigeria’s BRICS partnership was related to the visa restrictions or deportation demands.
“You have to also bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prison,” he said.
Despite the diplomatic row, the foreign minister emphasized that Nigeria seeks a constructive relationship with Washington. With vast reserves of gas, critical minerals, and rare earths essential for U.S. technology companies, Tuggar said there is room for mutually beneficial deals.
“We are in talks with the U.S. and are working to resolve these differences diplomatically,” he said.
Meanwhile, other African nations, including Benin, Eswatini, Libya, Rwanda, and South Sudan, have reportedly also been approached by the U.S. to take in deportees—some after prolonged legal battles and detentions.
The controversy underscores the complex intersection of migration, foreign policy, and sovereignty as nations navigate shifting global alliances and internal priorities.
Credit: BBC
