Esther Salifu
Nigeria has firmly declined U.S. requests to accept Venezuelan deportees, including individuals released from American prisons, citing domestic challenges and population concerns.
This stance emerges as the U.S. imposes a 10% tariff on Nigerian exports, a move some speculate is linked to Nigeria’s recent engagement with the BRICS alliance.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed Nigeria’s refusal to accept Venezuelan deportees during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today He stated that Nigeria would not take in Venezuelan prisoners deported from the United States.
Speaking further from Brazil during the BRICS summit, Tuggar reiterated, “It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own.”
The U.S. recently imposed a 10% tariff on Nigerian goods. While some link this to Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS summit, Tuggar clarified that the tariff hike may not necessarily be a result of Nigeria’s BRICS membership. He noted that the U.S. is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelan deportees, which Nigeria finds challenging.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced new visa restrictions, limiting most non-diplomatic visas to single entry with a three-month validity.
Tuggar disputed claims that this policy is based on reciprocity, explaining that Nigeria issues 90-day visas and also offers five year multiple entry visas to regular travelers. He emphasized ongoing discussions with the U.S. to address these concerns .
The government continues to engage with the U.S. to resolve trade and immigration issues while maintaining its stance on sovereignty and domestic welfare.
