Nigeria can't take Venezuelan deportees from US, says Yusuf Tuggar

Nigeria cannot accept Venezuelans because "we already have over 230 million people," says the foreign minister.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveNigeria has 'enough problems' and can't take deportees from US, minister says1 day agoShareSaveYūsuf Akínpẹ̀lú & Natasha BootyBBC News, Lagos & LondonShareSaveAnadolu via Getty Images"We already have over 230 million people," says Yusuf TuggarNigeria will not bow to pressure from the Trump administration to accept Venezuelan deportees or third-country prisoners from the US, foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar has vowed, quoting 1990s American rappers Public Enemy to make his point.

"In the words of the famous US rap group Public Enemy... You'll remember a line from Flava Flav - a member of the group - who said: 'Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can't do nothin' for you, man', " he said in an interview with privately owned Channels TV.

"We already have over 230 million people," the minister said.

His comments follow threats from Washington to restrict visas and hike tariff on countries who do not comply with its deportation policy.

"It will be unfair for Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan deportees," he said, suggesting that the recent visa curbs on Nigerian travellers by the US was not "reciprocal" but a pressure tactic.