Trump’s visa clampdown on Nigeria linked to rejection of asylum deal

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has lifted the lid on the reasoning behind recent U.S. visa restrictions and threats of trade tariffs, suggesting they stem from Nigeria’s refusal to accept deported Venezuelans, including ex-prisoners, from the U.S.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Tuggar revealed that the U.S., under former President Trump, had pressured several African countries, Nigeria included, to host Venezuelan deportees, some of whom were ex-convicts.

“You have to also bear in mind that the U.S. is mounting considerable pressure … to accept Venezuelans … some straight out of prison,” he said, adding Nigeria simply cannot afford to become a “dumping ground” given its 230 million population.

This pushback, Tuggar intimated, may have triggered Washington’s subsequent moves:

A 10% tariff on Nigerian exports

A sudden shift to single-entry, three-month U.S. visas for Nigerian citizens, which is an obvious rollback from the previous five-year multiple-entry visas

While the U.S. justified the visa policy change under “reciprocity,” Tuggar dismissed that defence, pointing out Nigeria still issues five-year visas to Americans, but has recently introduced more efficient electronic tourist visas.