The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., has confirmed that Nigerian deportees from the U.S. will be sent back to Lagos.
During a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mills explained that the first group of deportees would include convicted prisoners.
“Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos. There wouldn’t be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja,” Mills stated.
He further clarified, “The first group will be convicted prisoners; those who committed crimes and are in U.S. prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated U.S. immigration laws. They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the U.S. They have committed immigration crime, people who have been ordered to leave.”
Mills also discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in September, emphasizing that its renewal depends on the parliamentary group. “I think this administration will concentrate more on trade and commerce. This relationship is strong, and we want it sustained,” he added.
Meanwhile, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. government to follow proper international protocols when deporting immigrants. She stressed the importance of ensuring that Nigerians being repatriated are treated with dignity.
She also asked the U.S. to help ease the trauma of deportees by giving them enough time to recover their assets before leaving.
Nigeria also raised concerns about the possible suspension of the U.S. Drop Box Visa System. Odumegwu-Ojukwu lamented the financial and emotional toll that Nigerians in the U.S. are facing due to the planned deportations. She explained that many families in Nigeria, including children, depend on money sent from relatives in the U.S. for their survival and education.
“With the new administration in the U.S., we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return,” she said.
She also revealed that about 201 Nigerian nationals are currently in U.S. immigration camps, with 85 of them already cleared for deportation.
“Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the U.S. but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these Diasporans,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She emphasized the need for deportees to be given enough time to handle their personal affairs before being sent back, noting that deportation could be deeply traumatic, especially for those who had not committed violent crimes.
Additionally, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. to reconsider suspending the Drop Box Visa Policy to prevent unnecessary hardship for Nigerians traveling for legitimate reasons. She called on the U.S. government to issue a formal statement to clarify its position on the matter and ease public concerns.
The minister also highlighted that about 14,000 Nigerian students are studying in the U.S., with parents in Nigeria worried about potential changes in student visa policies.
She expressed concern over the future of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), stating, “We can’t say whether it’s outright suspension. A lot of NGOs are worried and seeking clarifications. Even less than a month into the 90-day review, there have been concerns.”
She appealed for USAID programs to continue, saying that even if the agency itself is dissolved, there should be a way to ensure that its humanitarian efforts remain in place for poor communities across Nigeria and Africa.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also called for stronger bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S., particularly in trade and investment. She noted that both countries had not performed well in trade since the COVID-19 pandemic and urged more investment in Nigeria’s mining sector to boost exports to the U.S.
She also emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to its 4-Ds foreign policy—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. She stated that the government is focused on citizen diplomacy and is particularly concerned about Nigerians in foreign prisons.
Regarding illegal migration, she said Nigeria needs strategic partnerships to address unemployment, which is a major driver of migration, commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome” in Nigeria.
Despite security challenges in the Sahel region, Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that ECOWAS’ free movement policy remains in place. “ECOWAS has been at its best, so one has to appreciate that even with the exit of these states, yet free movement within the region is still there. The immigration has not closed the borders,” she noted.
During the meeting, Ambassador Mills reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria. He clarified that the Drop Box Visa Policy has not been suspended, explaining that policy reviews are a routine process whenever a new administration takes office.
He assured that the U.S. government’s stance on USAID, the Drop Box Visa System, and other concerns raised by Nigeria would be made clear soon.
Mills also acknowledged the vital work USAID has done, particularly in healthcare and humanitarian aid, including maternal and child health programs.
“Some of these NGOs are feeling the pains, but the situation is being reviewed,” he said.
The ambassador also expressed concern about democracy in Africa, noting the recent exit of three Sahel states from ECOWAS and the ongoing challenge of counter-terrorism in the region.
