Former Senator for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has strongly opposed the reported move by the United States to pressure Nigeria into accepting deported Venezuelan prisoners.
His reaction follows comments made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who disclosed on Thursday that the U.S. is mounting considerable pressure on African countries, including Nigeria, to accept deportees from Venezuela—some of whom are reportedly ex-convicts.
Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, Tuggar stated that Nigeria may not be able to accommodate such individuals, especially given their non-Nigerian status.
In a post shared via his official X handle, Shehu Sani supported the Foreign Minister’s stance, stressing that Nigeria must not offer refuge to foreign prisoners under any circumstance.
“If the U.S. wants to send Nigerian prisoners in U.S. jails back to Nigeria, that is okay and should be accepted,” he wrote.
“We don’t want Venezuelan prisoners in our country, and there should be no space for them now or in the future.”
The former lawmaker’s remarks echo growing concerns among stakeholders about the implications of accepting deportees with criminal backgrounds from other nations.
