By Dr. Chidubem Nwokedi
Let me start by making a confession. I am a Trump voter. However, I have since regretted my decision. As a second-generation Dallas resident, the fear of ICE is the beginning of wisdom. That fear has come to undermine our Dallas motto: “Live large. Think big.”
A troubling memo from the Trump-era U.S. administration has resurfaced, revealing efforts to pressure countries like Nigeria into accepting third-country nationals, particularly Venezuelan prisoners, deported from the United States. The Washington Post reports that nations agreeing to such transfers could “mitigate other concerns” with the U.S. This veiled threat, disguised as diplomacy, should concern every Nigerian.
Let us be clear. There is no moral, legal, or strategic justification for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners, or any foreign nationals with no legal or historical connection to our land, under any bilateral arrangement. Doing so would be an affront to our sovereignty, an insult to our dignity, and a risk to our national security.
First and foremost, international law does not compel Nigeria to receive third-country nationals deported by another state. Sovereignty over immigration policy is a fundamental right of every nation. To accept individuals simply because the U.S. seeks to offload them not only undermines this principle but also sets a dangerous precedent. Today it may be Venezuelan prisoners. Tomorrow, it could be undesirables from elsewhere, shunted across oceans and borders without consent or consideration.
The security implications are grave. Venezuela’s penal system is known to house hardened criminals, some with links to violent gangs and transnational crime networks. Transferring them into Nigeria’s already overstretched correctional system is not just reckless. It is hazardous. We lack the institutional capacity to manage such a burden, and there is no infrastructure in place to monitor, rehabilitate, or even properly identify these individuals.
Moreover, what benefit does Nigeria stand to gain from such an arrangement? None. This is not a trade deal. It is a geopolitical disposal scheme. We are being asked to accept risk with no reward, no economic benefit, no strategic advantage, and not even humanitarian logic. This deal is all cost, no gain.
Allowing this to happen would also damage Nigeria’s reputation. We have long prided ourselves on our principled foreign policy, rooted in nonalignment, mutual respect, and Pan-African solidarity. Accepting this deal under duress would not only compromise those ideals but also signal to the world that Nigeria can be coerced into serving as a dumping ground for others’ problems. It erodes our moral standing and weakens our diplomatic voice, particularly among fellow nations of the Global South.
Furthermore, such a move sends the wrong message domestically. How can our government justify the importation of foreign criminals at a time when Nigerians face acute challenges, rising insecurity, overstretched public services, and economic uncertainty? It would be a profound misjudgment, politically and morally, to burden Nigerian citizens with the fallout of America’s migration politics.
This is not to say that Nigeria must reject cooperation with the United States. Bilateral ties between Abuja and Washington are important and longstanding. But friendship must be built on mutual respect, not on coercion or transactionalism that disregards Nigeria’s interests.
Nigeria must draw a firm line. We are not a transit point for international deportees. We are not a correctional annex for the United States. Our sovereignty is not for rent.
In an increasingly multipolar world, where developing countries are asserting their place on the global stage, Nigeria must act with clarity and courage. The right decision is simple: say no.
Dr. Nwokedi writes from The Manor House, 1500 Marilla Street, Dallas, TX 75201.
