Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that the recent U.S. visa restrictions on Nigerians may be linked to Nigeria’s refusal to accept Venezuelan deportees, many of whom are ex-convicts from American prisons.
Speaking on Channels TV, Tuggar disclosed that the U.S. has been pressuring African nations, including Nigeria, to serve as host countries for Venezuelan asylum seekers, some directly from U.S. prisons. He described the demand as “unjust” and warned it could set a dangerous precedent.
“We have enough problems of our own,” Tuggar said. “It would be unfair to insist that Nigeria accepts 300 Venezuelan deportees and that might just be the beginning.”
The U.S. Embassy recently reduced visa validity for Nigerians to single-entry, three-month visas, citing reciprocity. Tuggar rejected this claim, stating the U.S. still receives five-year multiple-entry visas from Nigeria. He noted that Nigeria merely transitioned to an electronic visa system to improve processing.
Diplomatic sources suggest the Trump-era clampdown, including a 10% tariff on Nigerian exports, may be a broader pressure tactic aimed at compelling Nigeria to support controversial U.S. deportation strategies and share criminal database access conditions Nigeria has resisted.
Observers say such visa and trade restrictions are part of a larger U.S. strategy to gain leverage in global immigration negotiations.
