Nigeria Rejects U.S. Request to Accept Venezuelan Deportees, Denounces Tariffs and Visa Restrictions
By Okafor Joseph Afam | Published July 11, 2025
Story by Springnewsng
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has firmly rejected pressure from the United States for Nigeria to accept deported Venezuelan nationals, including ex-prisoners, describing the request as unrealistic and unjust.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Friday, Tuggar revealed that the U.S. government has been lobbying African countries to accept Venezuelan deportees. However, he emphasized that Nigeria is not in a position to comply.
“The United States is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans deported from U.S. prisons,” Tuggar said. “It would be difficult for a country like Nigeria to absorb such individuals. We already have over 230 million citizens and face our own internal challenges.”
Tuggar criticized the idea, stating, “Accepting Venezuelan deportees would not only burden Nigeria but could set a dangerous precedent. We cannot take in prisoners from another continent. It’s unfair and unrealistic.”
The Minister also responded to recent U.S. sanctions, including a new 10% tariff imposed on Nigerian exports and a three-month single-entry visa policy for Nigerians. While some analysts have linked these measures to President Bola Tinubu’s engagement with BRICS nations in Brazil, Tuggar dismissed the connection.
“The tariff hikes may not necessarily be tied to our BRICS involvement,” he clarified. “But we are actively engaging with the U.S. to resolve these issues diplomatically.”
Regarding the revised U.S. visa policy, Tuggar challenged claims that the new restrictions were based on reciprocity. He noted that Nigeria already offers U.S. citizens multiple five-year visa options and recently transitioned to a more efficient electronic visa system.
“We used to have visa-on-arrival, but it wasn’t running efficiently. Now we issue e-visas to save time,” he said. “Many American travelers receive five-year multiple-entry visas, contrary to claims of strict 90-day limitations.”
Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to balanced foreign relations while urging the U.S. to reconsider policies that unfairly target Nigerian citizens and the country’s economic interests
