The Federal Government has expressed concern over the deportation of 13 Nigerians and one Gambian from the United States to Ghana without prior consultation with Abuja.
The deportees, flown out on a U.S. military cargo plane, were handed over to Accra despite having no direct ties to the country. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the move was accepted “purely on humanitarian principle” after other West African nations reportedly rejected Washington’s request.
“We made it clear to the Americans that we will not accept one dollar, because taking the deportees comes with some financial burden. But we could not ignore the suffering of our fellow West Africans,” Ablakwa stated.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, distanced itself from the development. Spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said:
“What we have only rejected is the deportation of other nationals into Nigeria. Our citizens can be returned directly, and there is no reason to send them to another country first.”
Ghanaian officials claimed the 14 deportees had since departed—13 Nigerians by bus to Nigeria and the Gambian by flight to Banjul. But lawyers for four of the Nigerians disputed this, telling the Associated Press that their clients remained in custody at a Ghanaian facility. Ghana’s Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, denied the claim, insisting no deportees were being held.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has reiterated that visa application fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable, despite growing frustration among Nigerian applicants.
In a statement on X, the mission said:
“Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing the application, regardless of the outcome. While fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, each application is reviewed thoroughly and fairly. For best results, prepare your application carefully and use the resources on our website.”
