Nigeria Rejects US Pressure to Accept Venezuelan Deportees, Says Foreign Minister
Minister Tuggar Clarifies US Tariffs and Visa Restrictions Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that the United States is pressuring African nations, including Nigeria, to accept deportees from Venezuela—many of whom are reportedly former prisoners. Tuggar firmly stated that Nigeria cannot comply with such demands, citing the country’s existing socio-economic challenges.
US Pressure on African Nations
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tuggar emphasized Nigeria’s unwillingness to accommodate Venezuelan deportees. “The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans being deported, some straight out of prison,” he said. “It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners. We have enough problems of our own.”
The minister warned that accepting such deportees could set a dangerous precedent. “We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud. We already have 230 million people. You will be the same people that would castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelans from US prisons.”
US Tariffs and BRICS Membership
Tuggar also addressed recent economic sanctions imposed by the US, including a 10% tariff on Nigerian goods. Many speculated that the move was retaliation for President Bola Tinubu’s participation in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Brazil. However, Tuggar dismissed the notion, stating, “The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in BRICS.”
He pointed to broader geopolitical tensions, including the US’s push for African nations to accept deportees, as a possible factor in strained relations. “It would be unfair to insist that Nigeria accepts 300 Venezuelan deportees. Maybe that might just even be the beginning,” he cautioned.
US Visa Restrictions Debunked
In addition to tariffs, the US recently imposed stricter visa policies on Nigerians, reducing validity to a single-entry, three-month period. The US Embassy cited “reciprocity” as the reason, but Tuggar refuted this claim, clarifying that Nigeria already issues 90-day visas similar to the US.
“We are talking to the Americans. We are engaging them,” he said. “We issue five-year multiple-entry visas, the same way they do for regular travelers. The only difference is that Nigeria has introduced electronic e-visas to streamline the process.”
Tuggar explained that Nigeria’s visa policy is not retaliatory but designed for efficiency. “We used to have a visa-on-arrival system that wasn’t running efficiently. Now, we have online e-visas to save time. There are different categories—some travelers get short-term visas, while others receive long-term ones.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Future Engagements
The diplomatic friction comes amid President Tinubu’s absence from a recent White House meeting with five West African leaders—Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Analysts suggest Nigeria’s growing ties with BRICS nations may be influencing US policy shifts.
Despite tensions, Tuggar affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive dialogue with the US. “We are engaging in discussions to clarify misunderstandings and ensure fair treatment for Nigerians,” he said.
As geopolitical dynamics evolve, Nigeria’s stance on deportees and economic policies will likely remain a focal point in US-Africa relations.
Full credit to the original publisher: The Citizen