Nigeria has strongly pushed back against a proposal by the United States to accept deported Venezuelan nationals, including former prisoners, into its territory. The West African nation emphasized that it is grappling with its own socio-economic and security challenges and cannot accommodate individuals with no ties to the country.
The proposal emerged during meetings in Washington this week, where several African heads of state were hosted by U.S. leadership. Discussions reportedly included a controversial plan to resettle third-country migrants—particularly from Venezuela—into various African nations when their deportation to their home countries faces obstacles or delays.
Nigeria’s top diplomat, speaking during a visit to Brazil for a global summit, stated that the suggestion is unworkable for his country. He pointed out that accepting foreign deportees, especially those released directly from American prisons, would only add pressure to an already overburdened system. With a population exceeding 230 million people, Nigeria is dealing with internal issues such as unemployment, insecurity, overstretched infrastructure, and a high youth population in need of jobs and resources.
The proposal comes amid a broader U.S. initiative to speed up deportations. Since the start of the year, the current U.S. administration has intensified efforts to remove undocumented migrants and resolve long-standing delays by exploring options that include transferring migrants to third-party countries. African leaders who visited the White House this week—including those from Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon—were all reportedly asked to consider hosting migrants who are not originally from their territories.
An internal diplomatic memo sent to some African governments ahead of the meeting described the effort as a plan for a “dignified, safe, and timely transfer” of non-African nationals from U.S. custody. However, Nigerian officials have made it clear that such transfers are not a priority for the country and would be resisted.
The proposition has also stirred criticism from civil society organizations and migration experts who argue that it reflects an increasingly transactional approach to foreign policy, where countries in the Global South are asked to bear the consequences of international migration patterns they did not create.
There is also growing concern that accepting foreign deportees with criminal histories may threaten local security and social cohesion in the receiving countries. Many question the legal and moral grounds of resettling people in nations with which they have no historical, cultural, or familial connections.
While the U.S. has not officially confirmed the details of the plan or commented on the reactions from African governments, the conversation signals a new phase in global migration diplomacy—one where the burden of hosting deported individuals may shift toward countries least equipped to absorb them. Nigeria’s firm stance underscores the complexities and sensitivities surrounding international cooperation on migration, particularly when national interests and sovereignty are at stake.
