UK to Deport Over 2,000 Nigerians as Tinubu Signs New Migration Deal During Trip
Nigeria has entered into a fresh migration agreement with the United Kingdom that will allow the deportation of over 2,000 Nigerians who currently have no legal right to remain in the country.
The development came during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the UK, where both nations moved to strengthen cooperation on migration control and security.
The deal was formalised between the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. It is expected to fast-track the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders back to Nigeria.
Under the arrangement, British authorities can proceed with the removal of individuals who have exhausted their legal options to stay. This includes hundreds of Nigerians whose asylum appeals have been denied, as well as others convicted of crimes and awaiting deportation.
Figures released by UK officials show that about 961 Nigerians have already completed the asylum appeal process. In addition, over 1,100 offenders are currently in line for deportation. The new agreement is expected to clear long-standing delays and speed up the process.
A major change introduced in the deal is Nigeria’s acceptance of “UK letters” as valid identification for deportation. These documents will now serve as substitutes for passports in cases where individuals do not have proper travel papers. This move is seen as a breakthrough, as documentation issues had previously slowed down deportations.
While key details such as the exact implementation date and financial terms were not made public, there are still questions about whether the agreement will apply strictly to Nigerian citizens or extend to others linked to Nigeria.
Speaking on the deal, Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria remains committed to its international responsibilities and maintaining strong diplomatic ties.
“We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations.
“To sustain that relationship, we must be as open and as fair as possible,” Ojo said.
On the UK side, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, described Nigeria as an important partner in managing migration issues. He stressed the need for fairness within the system.
“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said, adding that “anyone who abuses our system, breaks our laws or attempts to circumvent immigration rules will be removed.”
Beyond deportation, the agreement also covers joint efforts to tackle organised immigration crime. Both countries will share intelligence and carry out coordinated operations aimed at dismantling networks involved in visa fraud and illegal migration activities.
Authorities are particularly targeting schemes such as fake job sponsorships, sham marriages, and forged financial documents. The partnership will also address rising cases of online fraud, including romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related crimes.
As part of the deal, Nigeria is expected to strengthen its laws on immigration offences. A new intelligence-sharing structure, described as a “fusion cell,” will bring together government agencies, financial institutions, tech firms, and telecom companies to improve enforcement.
