Nigeria Pushes Back, Says We’ll Not Accept Deportees from U.S.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has unequivocally stated that Nigeria will not accept deportees from the United States, declaring the matter is permanently closed in Nigeria-U.S. bilateral relations.

Speaking at a fireside chat during the Reuters Next Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Minister Tuggar emphasized the finality of Nigeria’s position: “That ship has sailed. We made our point, and I believe it’s no longer on the discussion table. We don’t see the need to take nationals from other countries under duress.”

The Minister clarified that Nigeria’s focus is on addressing its massive domestic challenges, including poverty and unemployment, by developing and training its own rapidly growing population. He noted that with a population of over 200 million people projected to reach 400 million in the next 25 years, the government’s goal is to “train our workforce and ensure we have the right dependency ratio to sustain our future.”

Tuggar assured that the relationship with the U.S. remains healthy, characterizing the deportation refusal as merely a matter of understanding.

Tuggar also used the platform to address broader trade relations between rich countries and Africa. He warned against treating trade with Africa like a “game of Minecraft,” where foreign nations simply secure supplies of natural resources like oil, gas, and critical minerals.

The Minister insisted that engagement must be based on “mutual respect, based on shared interests and based on the fact that Africa needs to develop.”

He stressed that failure to foster genuine development in Africa will only exacerbate global challenges, leading to continued “irregular migration” and other issues.

Tuggar noted that Nigeria, despite its power deficit, was less affected by U.S. trade tariffs than other countries, as it focuses on a range of trading partners.