The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., has confirmed that Nigerian deportees will be repatriated to Lagos. Speaking during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, he stated that convicted prisoners will be among the first group of deportees. According to Mills Jr., those being deported include individuals who have committed crimes or violated U.S. immigration laws.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. government to ensure the deportation process adheres to international conventions, emphasizing the need for dignified repatriation and ample time for deportees to address their affairs in the U.S. She also raised concerns over the suspension of the U.S. Drop Box Visa System and its implications for Nigerians, particularly students and families relying on remittances.
The minister highlighted the broader impact of U.S. immigration policies on Nigerian families and expressed the federal government’s commitment to citizen diplomacy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4-Ds foreign policy framework. She called for strengthened bilateral relations, investments in trade and mining, and continued U.S. support for humanitarian initiatives through USAID.
In response, Mills Jr. clarified that the Drop Box Visa Policy has not been suspended and reassured that policy reviews under the new U.S. administration are ongoing. He also reiterated the importance of Nigeria-U.S. cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism and democracy in Africa.
Source: Swifteradio.com
