In a sharp diplomatic break, Nigeria has refused United States demands to accept hundreds of deportees from Venezuela and other countries. Nigerian officials say they cannot take people who have no connection to their nation. The Foreign Minister stated Nigeria already faces too many problems at home to accept this new burden .
The decision has started a major disagreement between the two countries. The United States quickly responded by making it much harder for Nigerians to get visas to visit America. The U.S. also threatened to add extra taxes on Nigerian goods coming to American markets . This clash shows the bigger problems happening between the United States and African nations. It comes as the U.S. government pushes harder to find countries willing to take people being deported from America .
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar made Nigeria's position very clear during a television interview in July. He used a line from American rap group Public Enemy to explain his thinking. "In the words of the famous U.S. rap group Public Enemy — you'll remember a line from Flava Flav: 'Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can't do nothing for you, man,'" Tuggar said .
He pointed to Nigeria's large population of over 230 million people as one reason for their refusal. The country already deals with many internal challenges. These include security issues in northern areas, economic struggles, and crowded prisons . Tuggar specifically mentioned the U.S. wanted Nigeria to take in about 300 Venezuelans. Some of these individuals have criminal records in the United States .
"It will be difficult for a country like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria," Tuggar stated. "We have enough problems of our own. We cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria, for crying out loud" . The minister also said Nigeria would face international criticism if it agreed to take the Venezuelans. This would happen even though other countries might pressure them to do so .
Nigeria is not the only African country facing U.S. pressure on deportation policy. In early July, President Donald Trump met with five West African leaders at the White House. The presidents of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania attended this gathering . Though the meeting was officially about trade, Trump mentioned migration during his opening comments.
"I hope we can bring down the high rates of people overstaying visas, and also make progress on the safe third-country agreements," Trump said . The Wall Street Journal reported that before this meeting, the U.S. government had sent formal requests to all five nations. These messages asked each country to accept migrants being expelled from the United States .
Internal documents showed the Trump administration was actively pushing these leaders to accept people the U.S. wants to deport. These are individuals whose home countries either refuse to take them back or are slow to accept them . So far, most of these African nations have not publicly agreed to the U.S. requests. Liberia's Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti specifically denied any such discussions were happening. "We have not had discussions about deportees or criminals coming to Liberia," she told the BBC .
The United States has found some success with other African nations. Earlier this year, the U.S. deported eight men to South Sudan after a legal battle. These individuals came from various countries including Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba and Mexico . They had been held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti for several weeks before being sent to South Sudan. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for their removal .
Reports also suggest the U.S. has approached Rwanda, Benin, Eswatini, and Libya about accepting deported migrants. Libya's government denied these reports. Rwanda's Foreign Minister did confirm his government was in early talks with Washington about taking in third-country nationals . In August, Eswatini became the second African nation after South Sudan to accept such deportees .
The United States responded quickly to Nigeria's refusal. In early July, the State Department announced major visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens. Similar restrictions applied to people from Ethiopia and Cameroon .
Under the new rules, nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas for Nigerians will be valid for just three months and for a single entry only. This is a significant change from previous policy. Before these restrictions, Nigerians could often get five-year multiple-entry visas . The U.S. government called this change part of a "global reciprocity realignment" .
Nigerian officials strongly disagreed with this explanation. They noted that Nigeria still offers five-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens. This makes the U.S. restrictions seem like punishment rather than a reciprocal arrangement . The U.S. Embassy in Abuja denied the visa restrictions were punishment for Nigeria's stance on deportations. They claimed the changes were due to "technical and security benchmarks" that Nigeria had not met .
The Trump administration also threatened trade measures against Nigeria. President Trump warned of a 10% tariff on countries that side with policies of the BRICS alliance against U.S. interests . BRICS is a group of emerging economies that challenges Western political and economic power. The organization has expanded beyond its original members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and others .
Nigeria is not a full BRICS member but became a partner country in January 2025. This relationship likely contributed to the U.S. decision to threaten tariffs . The U.S. has now imposed a 10% punitive tariff on Nigerian exports to America. This makes Nigerian goods more expensive for American buyers and could hurt Nigerian businesses .
This standover deportation policy reflects larger changes in how African nations engage with world powers. Nigeria's refusal represents what some experts see as a growing assertiveness among African countries. They are increasingly unwilling to simply follow demands from Western nations .
Olajumoke Ayandele, a professor at New York University, wrote that Nigeria's stance "is a broader rejection of the transactional logic that has long shaped U.S.-Africa relations." She noted that "Nigeria isn't just defending borders—it is defending its sovereignty" . This shift comes as countries like China, Russia, Turkey, and Gulf states expand their influence across Africa. These nations often offer partnerships without the same conditions or demands as Western countries .
The United States has important interests at stake in its relationship with Nigeria. The country is Africa's most populous nation and largest economy. In 2024, bilateral trade between the U.S. and Nigeria reached nearly $10 billion. This makes Nigeria one of America's top African partners . Nigeria also plays crucial roles in regional peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts.
Tom Homan, the Trump administration's border czar, explained the U.S. position clearly. "When you've got countries that won't take their nationals back, and they can't stay here, we find another country willing to accept them," Homan said. He added that if people pose a security threat, "they're not walking the streets of this country. We'll find a third, safe nation to send them to, and we're doing it" .
The Supreme Court's liberal justices expressed deep concern about U.S. deportation practices. In early July, the Court allowed the deportation of eight men to South Sudan. The men had been held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti before their transfer .
Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan disagreed with this decision. In a joint dissent, they worried the ruling was made "without regard for the likelihood that they will face torture or death" upon return to South Sudan. That country has a long history of conflict and human rights abuses .
While refusing to accept deportees from the United States, Nigeria has also been tightening its own immigration rules. The Nigeria Immigration Service recently ended an amnesty program for foreigners who had overstayed their visas .
The program gave foreigners with expired immigration status a chance to regularize their stay in Nigeria without penalties. This grace period began in May and was extended until September 30, 2025 . After the deadline, foreigners found with expired papers face serious penalties. These include payment of overstay fines, removal from Nigeria, and possible bans from future entry .
The specific penalties depend on how long someone has overstayed:
· Less than three months: Removal, payment of $15 per day for each overstay day, or a two-year entry ban
· Three months to one year: Removal, daily fines, or a five-year entry ban
· One year and above: Removal and a 10-year or permanent entry ban
Nigeria has also introduced a new Visa Policy for 2025. Key changes include phasing out the Visa-on-Arrival system and replacing it with an e-Visa platform. The policy also creates new visa categories and automates the Temporary Work Permit application process .
Despite the current tensions, both countries have reasons to find common ground. Minister Tuggar said Nigeria wants to make deals with the United States in areas of mutual interest. He noted Nigeria has abundant gas reserves, critical minerals, and rare earth elements that American tech companies need .
The Nigerian government says it continues to talk with U.S. officials to resolve differences. They describe these discussions as part of ongoing efforts to protect Nigeria's national interests while maintaining important international partnerships .
The outcome of this dispute could influence how other African nations respond to similar U.S. requests. If Nigeria successfully resists pressure without major consequences, more countries might follow its example. However, if the U.S. imposes significant economic costs, other nations might feel compelled to cooperate with deportation demands .
What remains clear is that Nigeria has drawn a firm line on this issue. As Minister Tuggar stated, "We will continue to stand for our national interest" . This position reflects both the practical realities of governing a nation with many challenges and a broader shift toward asserting sovereignty in international relations.