Nigeria has firmly rejected efforts by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure African countries including Nigeria into accepting Venezuelan deportees, some of whom were ex prisoners, reinforcing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to protecting national sovereignty and prioritizing Nigeria’s internal stability.
The revelation came from Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who spoke during the 2025 BRICS summit in Brazil. Tuggar confirmed that the United States approached multiple African nations including Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon with a proposal to accept Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S., particularly those not linked to their countries of origin.
“It would be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners,” Tuggar said, emphasizing that Nigeria with a population exceeding 230 million already faces complex domestic challenges. “Nigeria cannot be a dumping ground for migrants who have no legal or historical connection to our nation.”
Reports indicate that during the Trump administration, a proposal was made to facilitate the dignified, safe, and timely transfer of these migrants many of them asylum seekers or former prisoners to cooperating African countries. Tuggar, however, dismissed the proposition as a serious breach of diplomatic norms and warned it would set a dangerous precedent.
Despite U.S. assertions that it seeks collaborative solutions on immigration and security, Tuggar reaffirmed that Nigeria’s decision was final and rooted in principle. “We are open to dialogue with the U.S. on matters such as digital visas and gas cooperation, but immigration policies must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and strategic priorities,” he said.
Tuggar also noted that changes to U.S. visa policies for Nigerians should not be seen as retaliation for Nigeria’s position. He stated that “there is still reciprocity” and that Nigeria remains committed to upholding its end of bilateral visa agreements.
This principled stance highlights the Tinubu administration’s assertive foreign policy direction, one that insists on mutual respect, rejects neo imperial tendencies, and ensures that Nigeria’s national interest remains non negotiable.
In a time of shifting global alliances and increased diplomatic pressure, President Tinubu’s government has drawn a firm line, sending a clear message that Nigeria is not a soft target for offloading geopolitical burdens.