Nigeria has enough population; no need to accept U.S. deportees: FG
The President Bola Tinubu-led government on Wednesday reiterated its stand against accepting foreign deportees from the United States and other countries into the country, insisting Nigeria has enough population.
“We do not see the need to take in other nationals under duress from any country because we already have a population of more than 30 million people,” said the foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tugga during Reuters Next Gulf Summit held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“We made our stand clear, and it is no longer on the discussion table. We continue to enjoy good relationships with the United States. We are not short of people.”
Mr Tuggar explained that the government was committed to providing opportunities to its growing population, especially in terms of tackling issues of poverty and unemployment.
“Our focus, as we move closer to become 400 million people, which we would be in the next twenty- five years, is to train our workforce and tackle issues of poverty and unemployment so that we have the right dependency ratio that will be able to sustain us as we move into the future,” the minister said.
Mr Tuggar said the country enjoys good relationships with the U.S. and other countries, adding the Nigerian government was always ready to provide opportunities for partners in the interest of development.
The minister also debunked the claim of Christian genocide in the country, accusing some U.S. media figures of bias and lies.
“One of our major challenges at the moment is the false narratives that are being created about Nigeria, this issue of religious persecution, Christians are being persecuted, which couldn’t be further from the truth, and it’s something that I think the investors need to come and see for themselves,” he said.
Mr Tuggar’s remarks came as a response to pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration, seeking agreements with African countries to accept deportees from Latin America and elsewhere in exchange for economic incentives.
The Nigerian government rejected a proposed U.S. deportation scheme aimed at relocating asylum seekers from third countries to African soil, signalling resistance across the continent to transactional diplomacy and conditional aid.
The minister added that Nigeria has enough of its own challenges and would not serve as a dumping ground for migrants with no ties to the country.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Olubadan lauds Tinubu on release of Oriire kidnap victims, urges rehabilitation
“As a follow-up to this development, the government must ensure that all communities bordering the National Park are fully secure,” he said.
Heading 1
Iran’s new supreme leader vows revenge over father’s assassination by U.S.-Israeli forces
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said.
Heading 4
Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One story
The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
Heading 2
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach
Nagelsmann resigned last week as the men’s national team coach following Germany’s shocking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Health
FG expands cancer funding, local drug production
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
Heading 3
Remi Tinubu begs Asake, Davido, Burna Boy to come rescue poor Nigerians from hunger
The first lady stated that buying exotic cars is good, but noted that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population.
