-
Nigeria rejects US plan to send foreign deportees to its territory.
-
FG cites security, economic pressures, and sovereignty in its stance.
-
Ex-diplomats back decision, warn against unknown-origin entrants
The Federal Government has restate Deportee d its refusal to accept deportees from the United States under President Donald Trump’s revived “third-country deportation” policy. This stance comes as Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan agree to take in foreign nationals expelled from the US, including prisoners.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Lagos PDP Inaugurates Screening Committee Ahead of State Congress
- North Needs Unity Not Infrastructure – APC Chieftain
- INEC Rejects ADC’s David Mark-Led Caretaker Committee
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told Punch that Nigeria’s decision was based on national security, economic strain, and sovereignty. Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, had earlier described the US request to accept Venezuelan deportees, some from American prisons, as “unacceptable.” He stressed that Nigeria, with over 230 million people, cannot take on “additional baggage.”
The US policy, cleared by the Supreme Court in June, allows deportees to be sent to countries other than their own.
Washington has threatened visa sanctions under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for nations refusing to cooperate. In recent months, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Rwanda have struck deals with the US, accepting deportees from countries like Vietnam, Jamaica, and Yemen.
Ebienfa said Nigeria’s priority is safeguarding its interests, pointing to ongoing strategic projects such as the Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline and rare earth mineral development. “We will not allow ourselves to be pressured,” he said.
Former diplomat Ogbole Amedu-Ode questioned the logic of deporting Venezuelans to Nigeria, calling the government’s refusal “a response with dignity.” Another retired ambassador, Rasheed Akinkuolie, stressed that while Nigeria would accept its own nationals, it would not admit foreigners of unknown origin, citing past incidents of illegal migrants forming criminal gangs.
