Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has said that Nigeria will not take in Venezuelans being deported from the United States, including those held in U.S. prisons. He was responding to reports that the U.S. is pressuring African countries to receive these deportees.

During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday, July 10, Tuggar explained that Nigeria is already dealing with serious problems at home and can’t take on challenges from other countries.

He said it would be hard for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners, pointing out that Nigeria has over 230 million people and is already facing enough difficulties.

In the past, Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers from the U.S. was said to be one reason why former U.S. President Donald Trump imposed visa restrictions on the country. Although the full details were not clear at the time, the U.S. also mentioned issues with visa reciprocity.

Tuggar said Nigeria is still discussing these matters with the U.S. to find peaceful solutions through diplomacy.

He added that Nigeria has made changes to improve its visa system. For example, people can now apply for visas online before traveling, which saves time and avoids delays when they arrive.

According to Tuggar, it is now easier to apply for a Nigerian visa from anywhere. You just need a laptop and internet access to complete the process before your trip.

He also spoke about how Nigeria gives visas to U.S. citizens. Tuggar said there are different types of visas depending on the purpose of the visit. Some Americans, especially tourists or first-time visitors, may get 90-day visas, while others are given long-term ones.

He stressed that not all Americans are limited to short-term visas, and that Nigeria offers long-term visas to many U.S. citizens.

Tuggar made it clear that Nigeria will never accept deported prisoners from other countries. He said Nigeria will not allow itself to become a dumping ground for Venezuelan prisoners from the U.S.

He concluded by urging the United States to reconsider its position and work with Nigeria in the spirit of mutual respect and global partnership.