The United States has, over time, explored the possibility of deporting undocumented migrants, including convicted criminals and individuals with unresolved immigration status to various African countries as part of President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement agenda.
Although Nigeria was not initially named among the destinations for deportations, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has confirmed that the U.S. approached Nigeria with a proposal to deport undocumented Venezuelan migrants, some with criminal records, citing irregular travel documents and transit histories.
We have more problems – Nigeria says
While countries such as Rwanda and South Sudan have reportedly responded positively to preliminary discussions, Nigeria has taken a firm stance against the plan, refusing to accept migrants with no legal or national ties to the country.
Nigeria’s inclusion was disclosed by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Tuggar disclosed that the United States had made informal overtures to Abuja, proposing that undocumented Venezuelan migrants, including some who had served prison time in the U.S., be deported to Nigeria based on travel documentation discrepancies or administrative convenience.
“You have to also bear in mind that the U.S. is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the U.S., some straight out of prisons,” Tuggar said.”
He pushed back against Trump’s third-country deportation proposal, which would involve relocating non-African nationals such as Venezuelans to Nigeria, citing the country’s numerous internal challenges, which it is still working to address.
Tuggar said Nigeria is not in a position to take on external issues like managing migrants at this time.
“It would be difficult for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own; we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria. We already have 230 million people,” Tuggar said.
Trump’s escalating trade, immigration standoff
The revelation comes amid growing diplomatic friction between Washington and African states, as the U.S. doubles down on stricter visa limitations and enforcement measures that have disproportionately impacted African travellers and students.
During the recently held BRICS summit in Brazil, President Trump issued a veiled warning, threatening to impose an additional 10% tariff on any nation that sides with BRICS in opposition to U.S. trade policy.
Tuggar, however, downplayed the threat, suggesting it was less about BRICS alignment and more about Nigeria’s refusal to participate in the deportation deal.
He also addressed the recently introduced U.S. visa policy affecting Nigerian applicants, dismissing Washington’s claim that the changes were based on reciprocity.
According to the minister, Nigeria already operates a 90-day visa regime, just like the United States, and the only notable difference is that Nigeria has adopted an electronic visa system to streamline processing.
“The claim of reciprocity is simply not accurate,” Tuggar said. “We are talking to the Americans. We are engaging them. We are also explaining and reminding them that we issue them five-year multiple entry visas, the same way that they issue regular travellers five-year multiple entry visas.” he noted.
His comments highlight the mounting diplomatic pressure African nations face as the Trump administration attempts to externalize its immigration challenges.
For Nigeria, the message remains clear: it will not accept non-citizen deportees—particularly those with no legitimate ties to the country.
