Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that the United States is exerting pressure on several African countries, including Nigeria, to accept deported Venezuelan—some of whom are ex-convicts.
Tuggar firmly stated that Nigeria would not comply with such a request.
Speaking during a one-on-one interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, the minister explained that Nigeria cannot afford to shoulder the burden of receiving deportees from another continent, especially those being repatriated directly from prison.
“The issue of tariffs may not necessarily have to do with us participating in BRICS.
“You have to also bear in mind that the US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prison.
“It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own.
“We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud. We already have 230 million people. You will be the same people that would castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelans from US prisons to be brought in,” he said.
Read Also: Nigeria did not apologise to Libya over Super Eagles’ detention – Tuggar
US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, met with five West African Presidents of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal at the White House, Washington, D.C., excluding President Tinubu.
Trump also announced a 10 per cent tariff on Nigerian goods exported to the US, as many believed this was coming following President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil to participate in the BRICS summit, after Trump’s threat.
On Tuesday, the US Embassy in Nigeria also announced visa restrictions for Nigerians as it effected single-entry three-month visa validity.
Tuggar, however, said the tariff hike and other sanctions may not necessarily be a result of Nigeria becoming a partner member of BRICS.
The minister also said accepting Venezuelan deportees into Nigeria may only be the beginning, adding that it would be unfair for the US to insist on Nigeria’s acceptance.
“The issue of accepting Venezuelan deportees, honestly, I don’t think is something that Nigeria is in a position to work with.
“And I think it would be unfair to insist that Nigeria accepts 300 Venezuelan deportees. Maybe that might just even be the beginning,” Tuggar said.
