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US to deport 201 Nigerians, says Drop Box policy not suspended
No fewer than 201 Nigerians are in the immigration camps set to be deported home from the United States in line with President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, just as the country revealed that it has not suspended the Drop Box policy of renewing its visa.
Eighty-five of those to be deported by the Donald Trump administration have been cleared for immediate eviction from the country.
According to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., among the first batch of deportees are those serving jail terms in US prisons.
The envoy said the deportees would be taken to Lagos, but did not indicate when.
He spoke during a meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in her office.
“There wouldn’t be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja.
“The first group will be convicted prisoners – those who committed crimes and are in US prisons.
“Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws.
“They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US.
“They have committed immigration crime.”
The Minister pleaded for dignified treatment for Nigerians to be deported.
This is in view of the fact that many of those convicts being deported from the US are manacled – with handcuffs on their hands and legs.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu insisted that the US Government must follow the laid down conventions on the deportation of persons in repatriating immigrants.
The Minister urged the US to find a way of ameliorating the trauma of those to be deported, including allowing them ample opportunity to retrieve their assets in America.
She bemoaned the emotional and financial pains that many Nigerians in the US were already experiencing since the Trump Administration announced the plans.
She stated that the effect was far-reaching even to the hinterlands of Nigeria, where, for instance, several families, including children, relied on remittances from the US for their survival and education.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said: “With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments.
“If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return.
“At the moment, we’re told that about 201 Nigerian nationals are in US immigration camps and about 85 have been cleared for deportation.
“Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains?
“This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these Diasporans.
“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?
“It will really be traumatic, especially for those who have not committed any violent crime.”
The US envoy also spoke on the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Mills said: “I think this (Trump) Administration will concentrate more on trade and commerce.
“This relationship is strong and we want it sustained.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed concern over the likely suspension of the Drop Box Visa System by the US Government.
The Minister urged Washington DC to reconsider the suspension of the policy such that Nigerians who had been travelling to the US for genuine reasons would not have to suffer unduly in procuring a US visa.
She urged the US Government to issue a statement clarifying its actual position on the Drop Box system to assuage the concerns of anxious Nigerians.
The Minister said that about 14,000 Nigerians are students in the US, with parents living in Nigeria.
These parents, she said, were worried whether there would be any change in student policy by the new US administration.
Expressing concern over the future of the United States Agency for International Development, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said: “We can’t say whether it’s outright suspension.
“A lot of NGOs are worried and waiting for clarification.
“We will just make that appeal on behalf of the NGOs in Nigeria.
“Even less than a month into the 90-day review, there have been concerns.
“I know before the completion of the review, there’s already humanitarian issues in Nigeria and Africa.
“We will appeal that this initiative be preserved.
“Even if it’s abrogated as an agency, there must be a way of keeping the ideals to ensure that the poor beneficiaries in the communities, not just in Nigeria but Africa, are not abandoned.”
The Minister further called for the injection of more impetus in the bilateral relations between Abuja and Washington DC.
Noting that Nigeria and the US had not done well in the area of trade, especially post-COVID-19, Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for investments in the mining sector.
According to her, diversification of investments would boost exports to the US.
She called for the reactivation of the Silent Secretariat, where the two countries assessed their bilateral relations.
She explained that the foreign policy of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, which focuses on democracy, development, demography and diaspora (4-Ds), was on course.
She restated the government’s commitment to citizen diplomacy.
She said: “One other area is not just diaspora but diplomacy, people-to-people contacts.
“So, the issue of illegal migration is there but the current administration is determined about citizen diplomacy.
“We want to know how our people in the diaspora are doing.
“We have some of them in prisons abroad.
“The administration is concerned about their welfare.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said that Nigeria needed strategic partnerships to tackle the demographic issue of unemployment, which triggers illegal migration, known as Japa syndrome in Nigeria parlance.
She said it was in line with the 4-Ds foreign policy of Nigeria that despite the Sahel crisis, the free movement policy of the Economic Community of West African States was still in place.
She said: “ECOWAS has been at its best, so, one has to appreciate that even with the exit of these states, free movement within the region is still there.
“The immigration has not closed the borders.”
The US envoy said he looked forward to the bilateral relations between both countries becoming broader.
Drop Box Policy not suspended
According to Mills, the Drop Box Visa Policy had not been suspended.
The envoy explained: “Whenever there is a change in administration, policies are renewed.”
He assured that the position of the new US Government on the USAID, Drop Box Visa system and others, would be known in due course.
He acknowledged that the USAID did some specific things, particularly life-saving in the health sector, and humanitarian issues like mother-child.
“Some of these NGOs are feeling the pains, but the situation is being reviewed,” Mills said.
The envoy expressed concerns over democracy in Africa, noting the exit of three Sahel states from ECOWAS as well as the challenge of counter-terrorism.
The Nation.
The Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has strongly criticized the National Assembly for endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, accusing both chambers of aiding in the desecration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Caucus meeting, held at the residence of former leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, Afenifere stated that members of the National Assembly have demonstrated a lack of courage in defending the democratic rights of Nigerians.
The communiqué, signed by Afenifere Leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan and National Publicity Secretary Prince Justice Faloye, described the President’s action and the National Assembly’s endorsement as “an ill-wind that blows the nation no good and a spit in the face of Nigerians.”
Afenifere called on the leadership of the National Assembly to step down in the interest of integrity, decency, and respect for the principle of separation of powers, which it described as the foundation of democracy.
“Contrary to the expectations of Nigerians but in a manner consistent with its proven character, the 10th Assembly in both chambers not only joined hands with the President in further desecrating the already tenuous 1999 Constitution but also demonstrated a lack of courage to defend the democratic rights of the people,” the communiqué read.
It further criticized the use of a voice vote to approve the emergency rule, arguing that such a procedure obscured constitutional requirements for a two-thirds majority vote in matters of national significance.
“The resort to a voice vote, thereby avoiding compliance with constitutional provisions, is a clear attempt to obscure the required legislative plebiscite on such a matter of monumental national importance. The President’s unilateral reversal of the electoral decision of the people of Rivers State is an affront to democracy and spits on the faces of Nigerians,” Afenifere stated.
Afenifere warned that the increasing concentration of power in the executive arm of government posed a serious threat to democracy, likening the situation to the way Adolf Hitler hijacked German democracy.
“By these very acts, a new gambit has emerged—a crisis of Nigerian constitutionalism—where both the horizontal principle of separation of powers and the vertical principles of federalism are being undemocratically usurped by an all-powerful executive that believes it can do whatever it wants,” the communiqué added.
The group also dismissed the recent vote of confidence passed on Senate President Godswill Akpabio by his colleagues, stating that it was an admission of a crisis of confidence within the Senate itself.
Afenifere urged all Nigerians to rise in defense of democracy and the rule of law, warning that failure to act could lead to the destruction of the country’s hard-won democratic system.
“We call on all people of goodwill to take legitimate action to restore the rule of law, ensure best democratic practices, and save Nigerian democracy. We must nip this in the bud before our democracy is completely eroded,” the communiqué concluded.
The Organised Labour has strongly condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, warning that it may be forced to take decisive action that could disrupt national economic activities if the proclamation is not reversed within a reasonable timeframe.
The threat was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Rivers State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor; State Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ikechukwu Onyefuru; and Chairperson of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Chuku Emecheta.
The labour unions raised concerns about the legality, economic impact, and consequences of the federal government’s actions.
The Organised Labour described the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the elected governor, Siminalayi Fubara; deputy governor, Ngozi Odu; and House of Assembly members as premature and baseless.
According to the union leaders, the people of Rivers State freely elected these officials, and any attempt to remove them outside constitutional processes undermines democracy.
They insisted that such actions must be reversed to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.
They highlighted the immediate hardship the state of emergency has caused for local government workers, many of whom have yet to receive their salaries.
The statement noted that withholding workers’ wages has exposed them to avoidable economic suffering, particularly at a time when the cost of living is already high.
The Organised Labour warned that the state of emergency could have devastating economic consequences, emphasising Rivers State’s strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy and the Niger Delta region.
It said with the nation already grappling with inflation, naira devaluation, high exchange rates, rising unemployment, and skyrocketing living costs, further instability in Rivers State could worsen the situation nationwide.
The statement also pointed out that the political uncertainty caused by the state of emergency has driven away potential investors who had expressed interest in the state’s economic initiative.
This loss of investment, according to labour leaders, is damaging the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and will have long-term consequences for economic development and employment opportunities in the region.
While acknowledging the need for maintaining law and order, the Organized Labour stressed that such actions must be carried out within the framework of the Nigerian Constitution.
The unions argued that suspending elected officials and allegedly disrupting salary payments for workers violate fundamental rights and could worsen security and economic challenges.
They urged the Federal Government to prioritise the safety and welfare of citizens over political interests, warning that any governance approach that sacrifices workers’ well-being for political maneuvers would only heighten tensions and resistance.
The statement called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the judiciary to take immediate steps to reverse the state of emergency and reinstate the suspended elected officials.
In a bid to resolve the situation peacefully, the unions advised the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
They warned that a failure to do so could lead to further escalation of the crisis, worsening the already tense political atmosphere in the state.
While calling on workers to remain calm and continue their duties, the Organised Labour leaders warned that they would not hesitate to take strategic union actions if their demands were not met within a reasonable timeframe.
Such actions, they emphasised, could have significant consequences for national economic activities. (Channels TV)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the petition submitted for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan fell short of some requirements.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said this in a statement issued on Thursday, 25th March, 2025.
Olumekun said the commission would take the necessary steps in line with laid down provisions if the petitioners completes the process in the appropriate manner.
“The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday 25th March 2025. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.”
“The process of recall is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the Commission’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.
“The petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The Commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The address given is “Okene, Kogi State”, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them. Once the petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in our regulations, the Commission shall commence the verification of the signatures in each Polling Unit in an open process restricted to registered voters that signed the petition only. The petitioners and the member whose recall is sought shall be at liberty to nominate agents to observe the verification, while interested observers and the media will also be accredited. At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the Commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines. In the absence of a definite contact address, the Commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.”
The Commission reassured the public that it would be guided by the legal framework for recall.
Rivers: Afenifere condemns National Assembly’s support for emergency rule
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