The Federal Government has expressed readiness to receive Nigerian deportees as the United States intensifies its immigration crackdown, targeting undocumented migrants.
Reports indicate that around 5,144 Nigerians are at risk of deportation in the first phase of the operation. This includes 1,454 currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, with 772 facing criminal charges or convictions.
So far, 417 Nigerians have been deported, while 884 have been removed between 2019 and 2024. Concerns about degrading treatment during deportation flights have also surfaced, with Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico condemning similar practices against their citizens.
In response, the Federal Government has formed an inter-agency committee, including NiDCOM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, to manage the situation.
NiDCOM Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, assured Nigerians that the government is fully prepared for any large-scale deportation. Meanwhile, former Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Joe Keshi, emphasized that improving Nigeria’s economy could help curb mass migration trends and reduce dependence on remittances.
