Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has firmly rejected pressure from the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees and third-country prisoners from the United States, insisting that the West African nation would not compromise its sovereignty or national interest for political appeasement.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Tuggar referenced the iconic 1990s American rap group Public Enemy to underscore his position, quoting member Flava Flav: “Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can’t do nothin’ for you, man.” Tuggar emphasized that with a population exceeding 230 million, Nigeria has its own domestic challenges and would not agree to absorb deportees from other nations, particularly individuals with criminal records.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions over U.S. immigration policies and threats from Washington to impose visa restrictions and new tariffs on countries unwilling to comply with its deportation agenda. The U.S. Department of State recently announced a drastic reduction in visa validity for Nigerian, Ethiopian, and Cameroonian citizens, limiting nearly all non-diplomatic visas to single-entry for just three months a move widely interpreted as a diplomatic pressure tactic.
Tuggar described the visa restrictions as unfair and non-reciprocal, stating, “It will be unfair for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees… You will be the same person who will castigate us if we acquiesce.”
Although Nigeria is not a full BRICS member, it became the ninth partner country of the expanded alliance in January 2024. This affiliation may have further strained U.S.-Nigeria relations, as former President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on nations supporting BRICS policies that contradict American interests.
The Nigerian minister dismissed these threats as unrelated to BRICS membership and reiterated that Nigeria’s refusal to take in Venezuelan prisoners was grounded in practical concerns. “We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees into Nigeria, for crying out loud,” Tuggar said, adding that Nigeria is instead seeking productive trade and investment partnerships with the U.S., particularly in energy, critical minerals, and rare earths essential for American technology firms.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration has made similar deportation requests to five other West African nations Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau, though it remains unclear if any have agreed. Liberia’s foreign minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, denied involvement, stating on BBC’s Newsday: “We have not had discussions about deportees or criminals coming to Liberia.”
Tuggar concluded by affirming that while Nigeria values its diplomatic relationship with the U.S., it would not sacrifice national interests or security under international pressure. He assured that discussions with U.S. officials are ongoing, aimed at resolving the matter diplomatically.
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