Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that the United States government is putting significant pressure on African countries to accept deportees from Venezuela, including individuals who are currently serving prison sentences in the US.
Tuggar made this disclosure on Thursday during an appearance on *Politics Today*, a political programme aired on Channels Television.
According to the Minister, part of the broader context of international diplomatic and economic engagements includes attempts by some global powers to influence internal immigration and repatriation decisions across the African continent.
“You have to bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons,” Tuggar said.
He made it clear that Nigeria is unlikely to accommodate such requests, especially where it involves receiving foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds.
“It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria,” he added.
Tuggar also noted that discussions on trade tariffs and broader international alignments, such as the BRICS group, should be understood separately from such immigration matters, indicating that Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interest remain central in all diplomatic engagements.
