Raphael Kanu
The Federal Government has firmly rejected pressure from the United States to accept Venezuelan deportees, including prisoners, amid a crackdown on undocumented migrants by the Donald Trump administration.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that Nigeria would not become a dumping ground for migrants or foreign convicts.
“The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons,” Tuggar said. “It would be difficult for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own; we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees. We already have 230 million people.”
The statement comes days after President Bola Tinubu attended the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Nigeria participated as a BRICS+ partner country. The summit was attended by world leaders from the 11-member economic bloc, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE.
During the final day of the summit, US President Donald Trump announced a 10% trade tariff increase targeting “anti-American” BRICS countries, including Nigeria, China, and India. While some analysts viewed the move as retaliation against the bloc’s growing influence, Tuggar suggested the tariff threat may not be directly linked to Nigeria’s BRICS participation.
“The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in the BRICS meeting,” he said.
Tuggar also addressed the ongoing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates following fresh visa restrictions on Nigerian nationals. He described the move by the UAE as regrettable but said the Tinubu administration has opened dialogue with US authorities regarding Washington’s recent visa limitations.
In January 2025, Nigeria formally accepted an invitation to join BRICS+ as a partner country, marking a strategic pivot toward emerging economies. The bloc, which accounts for approximately 37% of global GDP and nearly half of the world’s population, is positioning itself as a counterweight to Western-dominated global institutions.
Meanwhile, the Minister’s comments have reignited debate over Nigeria’s immigration and diplomatic strategy, with some observers warning that accepting foreign deportees, especially prisoners, could exacerbate domestic insecurity and overstretch social services.
The US deportation policy is part of President Trump’s second-term immigration agenda, which has seen increased detention and removal of undocumented migrants, particularly from Latin America.
As diplomatic negotiations continue, Nigeria has reiterated its position: it will not compromise national interest under foreign pressure.