FG Declines U.S. Plan to Resettle Venezuelan Deportees in Nigeria

The Federal Government has turned down a proposal by the United States requesting Nigeria and other African nations to accept Venezuelan deportees, including individuals with criminal records.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that the country will not absorb deportees who have no connection to its population or territorial obligations.

Tuggar described the U.S. request as impractical and misaligned with Nigeria’s current domestic realities.

“Nigeria has enough problems of its own,” the minister said, citing the country’s ongoing security challenges, rising unemployment, and economic constraints.

He added that the government remains committed to international cooperation on migration and refugee matters but will not take on new burdens that could undermine national priorities.

Diplomatic sources revealed that the U.S. approached several African countries to explore possible resettlement options for Venezuelan nationals facing deportation.

Some of these individuals have pending legal cases or past criminal convictions that complicate direct repatriation to Venezuela due to strained diplomatic relations and logistical bottlenecks.

Policy analysts say the unusual request reflects the United States’ struggle to manage a growing deportation backlog amid tightened immigration controls and heightened political scrutiny at home.

By asking third countries to share the responsibility, Washington aims to relieve pressure on its detention system while navigating complex diplomatic hurdles with the Venezuelan government.

However, Nigeria’s response signals a more assertive foreign policy stance that prioritises local capacity and sovereignty.

Tuggar stressed that while Nigeria will continue to meet its obligations under international treaties, it will not accept arrangements that place additional strain on already stretched social infrastructure.

This is not the first time Abuja has resisted foreign proposals that fail to align with domestic interests.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly emphasised that Nigeria’s foreign partnerships must deliver clear benefits and avoid compromising national security or social stability.

U.S. officials have yet to issue a formal statement in response to Nigeria’s position. Diplomatic sources say further talks are unlikely in the short term as attention shifts back to bilateral trade and security cooperation between both countries.