The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its stance that Nigerians who have been deported from the United States are always welcome to return home. This statement comes amidst growing concerns over the increasing number of Nigerians facing deportation due to immigration policies in the US.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, clarified that the Nigerian government is fully prepared to receive and reintegrate any citizens who might be deported. He also assured that necessary measures have been put in place to address such situations effectively.
The Commission further explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is primarily responsible for handling matters concerning deportations. To ensure a coordinated response, the Federal Government has already established an inter-agency committee dedicated to dealing with potential deportations from the United States.
Balogun elaborated on the structure of this inter-agency committee, revealing that it includes key government bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). These agencies are working together to develop a comprehensive approach in case of mass deportations of Nigerians from the US.
However, the NiDCOM spokesperson emphasized that, at the moment, the Commission has not received any official reports or confirmation regarding ongoing deportation processes involving Nigerians in the United States.
It is important to recall that approximately 3,690 Nigerians residing in the US are currently facing deportation due to the strict immigration enforcement policies being implemented under former President Donald Trump. The crackdown on illegal immigrants in the US has led to heightened concerns among the Nigerian community abroad.