Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the previous National Assembly, has strongly opposed the United States’ efforts to deport Venezuelan prisoners to Nigeria.
The controversy arose after Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, revealed on Thursday that the US has been pressuring Nigeria and other African nations to accept Venezuelan deportees.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tuggar indicated that Nigeria may not be in a position to comply with the US request. The minister’s statement has sparked debate, with Shehu Sani leading the opposition against the proposal.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the former senator made it clear that Nigeria should not accept foreign prisoners under any circumstances.
Sani acknowledged that the US has the right to deport Nigerian citizens held in American prisons back to their home country, but he firmly rejected the idea of Nigeria accommodating deportees from Venezuela. “If the US wants to send Nigerian prisoners in US jails back to Nigeria, that is okay and should be accepted,” he wrote. “We don’t want Venezuelan prisoners in our country, and there should be no space for them now or in the future.”
Shehu Sani’s remarks reflect growing concerns over the implications of such a move, including potential security risks and the strain on Nigeria’s already overburdened correctional system.
The US government has not yet provided detailed reasons for its push to deport Venezuelans to African nations, but the proposal has faced significant backlash from Nigerian officials and civil society groups.
As discussions continue, the Nigerian government faces pressure to take a definitive stance on the matter, balancing diplomatic relations with the US against national interests and public opinion.
Shehu Sani’s outspoken rejection highlights the sensitivity of the issue and the need for careful consideration before any agreement is reached.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
