Nigeria has firmly rejected US pressure to accept deported Venezuelan migrants—some reportedly fresh out of prison—amid a broader push by the Trump administration to offload non-citizen deportees to African nations. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who broke the news, emphasized that with a population of over 230 million and its own domestic challenges, Nigeria simply cannot absorb foreign prisoners. This follows a White House meeting where the presidents of five West African nations – Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Senegal, and Mauritania – were urged to accept migrants from third countries. Reports suggest the US is trying to expedite deportations by relocating migrants, whose deportations to their home countries have faced delays, to third nations. However, Nigeria is drawing a clear line, refusing to become a holding ground for deportees.
Reuters
