Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar says African nations face enough internal challenges, opposes plan to take in non-African migrants

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has stated that the country will not accept Venezuelan deportees from the United States, some of whom are reportedly being released directly from prison. His comments come amid growing pressure from the U.S. government for African nations to serve as third-country destinations for deported migrants.

Speaking from Brazil during the BRICS summit, Tuggar told Channels Television on Thursday that the United States has been pressing several African countries to take in Venezuelans and other foreign nationals facing deportation. “It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own,” Tuggar said, noting Nigeria’s population of over 230 million and existing socioeconomic challenges.

The comments followed a high-level meeting at the White House this week, where U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon. According to officials familiar with the discussions, Trump proposed a plan that would allow the United States to deport migrants to third countries in Africa when returning them to their countries of origin becomes difficult or delayed.

An internal U.S. State Department document, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was circulated to African governments ahead of the meeting. It urged them to agree to the “dignified, safe, and timely transfer from the United States” of these third-country nationals. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.