The Nigerian government has entered into a new agreement with the United Kingdom that will allow the UK to send back Nigerians who failed in their asylum applications, people who overstayed their visas, and some convicted criminals. The deal is part of growing cooperation between both countries on immigration control and security matters.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, signed the agreement with the UK’s Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom. The UK government said the arrangement will make the deportation process easier and faster. Under the deal, Nigeria has agreed to accept UK-issued identification letters for people without valid passports. This means deportations can happen without waiting for emergency travel documents to be processed.
Speaking about the agreement, UK Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said Nigeria is an important partner in efforts to control illegal migration. He explained that the UK is home to a large Nigerian community and also issues more visas to Nigerians than to any other African country. According to him, the UK government wants to make sure people who break immigration rules or misuse the system are removed quickly.
Tunji-Ojo also said Nigeria is committed to acting responsibly in its international partnerships. He described the relationship between Nigeria and the UK as important and something the country hopes to maintain for many years. He added that Nigeria is ready to be open and fair in fulfilling its responsibilities under the agreement.
The deal is expected to strengthen cooperation between both countries on migration management. Officials said the number of people returned to Nigeria from the UK has almost doubled in recent years, reaching about 1,150 annually. In addition, the UK has removed nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals since the 2024 election.
Both countries also agreed to work together more closely by sharing information and carrying out joint operations to tackle criminal networks that misuse visa systems. The goal, according to officials, is to ensure that people entering the UK do so legally and are able to contribute positively to society.
