Nigeria’s Firm Stance Against Accepting US Deportees During Trump Era Recalled

A look back at a notable diplomatic dispute reveals Nigeria’s strong refusal to accept deportees from the United States during the Trump administration. In past statements, then-Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar emphatically stated Nigeria’s position, citing the nation’s own significant challenges. This stance came amid reports of the U.S. pressuring several African nations to accept foreign nationals, including those from third countries like Venezuela, under threats of tariffs and visa restrictions.

Historical accounts detail the U.S. government’s efforts to deport migrants, with instances such as the deportation of individuals from various countries to South Sudan after being held in Djibouti. The Trump administration reportedly approached other African nations, including Rwanda, Benin, Eswatini, and Libya, to take in these deportees. While some nations engaged in early talks, others, like Libya, denied such agreements.

Adding to the tensions, the U.S. State Department had imposed significant visa restrictions on citizens from Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Cameroon, limiting nonimmigrant and nondiplomatic visas to three months and single entry. Nigerian officials at the time viewed these restrictions as linked to their non-compliance with U.S. migration demands, rather than genuine reciprocity. Despite ongoing engagements with U.S. officials on other matters, Nigeria consistently maintained its sovereignty, with Tuggar asserting, “We will continue to stand for our national interest.”

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