Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a bilateral agreement that enables the deportation of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders from the UK to Nigeria.
The agreement was formalised during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom.
It was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, according to a statement from the UK Home Office.
Under previous arrangements, deportations were often delayed due to documentation requirements, including the need for valid passports or emergency travel certificates for affected individuals.
The new agreement allows the United Kingdom to repatriate individuals who have exhausted legal appeals on asylum claims, as well as those convicted of crimes and persons who have overstayed their visas.
A key provision permits Nigeria to accept UK-issued identification documents, referred to as “letters,” as valid proof of identity for deportees without passports.
According to available data, there are 961 Nigerian failed asylum seekers in the UK who have exhausted all legal appeals, while 1,110 Nigerian nationals convicted of crimes are awaiting deportation.
Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigeria’s participation in the agreement reflects its commitment to international obligations. He said, “We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations.”
UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, described Nigeria as a key partner in addressing irregular migration and enforcement efforts.
The agreement also includes provisions for joint enforcement operations and intelligence sharing between both countries to address criminal networks linked to visa abuse and migration-related offences.
Officials stated that the agreement is expected to streamline deportation processes by removing administrative barriers and improving cooperation between both countries on migration enforcement.
The arrangement also includes plans for collaboration on tackling fraud, including online scams and document falsification linked to migration processes.
