The Federal Government has raised concerns over the deportation of 13 Nigerian nationals from the United States to Ghana without prior consultation or consent from Nigerian authorities.
The deportees, 13 Nigerians and one Gambian were reportedly flown on a U.S. military cargo aircraft and handed over to Ghanaian authorities, despite having no direct ties to Ghana.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, explained that the country accepted the deportees purely on humanitarian grounds, citing its Pan-African responsibility after several West African countries declined to receive them.
However, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly distanced itself from the development, stating that it was not informed about the transfer. Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa clarified that Nigeria has never agreed to accept non-Nigerian deportees adding that Nigerian citizens should be returned directly to Nigeria, not rerouted through another country.
