During a recent appearance on Politics Today aired on Channels TV, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, strongly rejected alleged U.S. plans to deport over 300 Venezuelan nationals, said to include ex-prisoners, into Nigeria.
The U.S. allegedly approached Nigeria with the request to host these deportees, and Tuggar didn’t mince words:
“It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own… You’ll be the same people castigating us if we agree,” he said.
He warned that saying “yes” could open the door to a chain of troubling demands. “Maybe that might just even be the beginning,” he added.
Is This a Payback for BRICS?
Some online whispers claim this tension is U.S. retaliation for Nigeria’s involvement in the recent BRICS summit, but Tuggar dismissed those claims, saying the 10% tariffs imposed by former President Trump were a separate issue.
“The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in BRICS,” he clarified.
Visa Wahala Enters the Chat
As if that wasn’t enough, a new U.S. visa policy is also raising eyebrows. Nigerian travellers are now being given single-entry visas valid for only 3 months, even though Nigeria continues to issue 5-year multiple-entry visas to Americans.
Tuggar confirmed this, saying Nigeria doesn’t operate on strict “visa tit-for-tat,” but they are actively engaging the U.S.on the matter.
Still, Naija No Carry Last
The minister also hyped recent upgrades in Nigeria’s visa system—from e-applications to faster visa-on-arrival services—aimed at making travel smoother for foreigners.
Final Thoughts
While nothing’s fully confirmed about the alleged deportee request being tied to BRICS politics, one thing clear be say—Nigeria is standing its ground this time.
🎥 Watch the full interview below
