THE Federal Government on Thursday said it has not received any formal notification from the United States or Ghana regarding reports that Nigerians are among those deported under Washington’s revived “third-country deportation” policy and flown to Accra.
The clarification followed media reports, citing Reuters, that Ghana had accepted a first batch of 14 deportees from the US, including Nigerians and other West Africans, under an arrangement that allows them to be processed in Ghana before being sent back to their respective countries.
According to the report, Ghanaian President John Mahama disclosed that the deportees, who include citizens of Nigeria, The Gambia, and other ECOWAS states had already arrived in Accra.
Mahama justified the move by saying all West Africans “don’t need a visa to come to our country,” making it easier for Ghana to facilitate their return home.
Reacting to the development, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told News Point Nigeria that Nigeria had not been officially briefed.
“We have yet to be informed officially,” Ebienfa said, noting that Nigeria would only act after receiving formal communication on the matter.
The statement comes as a relief to many Nigerians but also raises concerns about potential gaps in communication between governments over an issue that could have major diplomatic implications.
This is not the first time Nigeria has been linked to the controversial US policy. Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, had in July revealed that the Trump administration was pressuring African countries including Nigeria to accept deportees, some of whom were Venezuelan nationals with criminal convictions.
Tuggar described the policy as “unacceptable,” warning that it would unfairly burden Nigeria, which is already grappling with domestic security and economic challenges.
The US, however, has insisted that the policy is necessary to enforce its immigration laws and deter illegal migration. Under Section 243(d) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, Washington can suspend visa issuance to countries that obstruct deportations.
Former Nigerian diplomats have offered mixed reactions to Ghana’s decision to receive the deportees.
Retired Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie said Ghana acted within its sovereign rights: “The government of Ghana has the right to accept deportees from the USA. It is an internal affair of the country, and the reasons for taking such a decision cannot be questioned by another country,” he said.
Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, another retired envoy, suggested that the decision was driven by logistics rather than bilateral agreements with Nigeria.
“Ghana is accepting US deportees of West African extraction. This is at the instance of the US. Recall that Nigeria had earlier rejected a US request for the same purpose,” he explained.
He added that Ghana’s acceptance may be tied to ECOWAS’ visa-free protocol, which allows citizens of member states to travel freely within the region.
Retired Ambassador Mohammed Abdul urged caution, warning that mishandling the matter could strain Nigeria-Ghana relations, which have been tense in recent years over issues like trade disputes and the treatment of Nigerian traders in Ghana.
“Deportation issues must be managed carefully to avoid reigniting tensions,” Abdul said.
In June, the US Supreme Court cleared the legal path for these deportations, allowing Washington to send foreign nationals to countries other than their home nations when repatriation is blocked.