Nigeria, UK Seal Deal to Repatriate Illegal Migrants and Offenders
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have entered into a new bilateral agreement aimed at returning individuals without legal residency status in the UK, including failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders.
The agreement was formalised during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the UK, with Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, signing on behalf of their respective governments.
Under the arrangement, more than 2,000 Nigerians currently without legal status in the UK could be repatriated. This includes hundreds who have exhausted their asylum appeals, as well as over a thousand individuals convicted of various offences and awaiting deportation.
A major feature of the deal is the introduction of alternative travel documentation. For the first time, Nigeria will recognise UK-issued identification letters for individuals lacking valid passports, removing a longstanding barrier that had slowed deportation processes.
Although specific timelines and financial terms were not disclosed, the agreement is expected to significantly streamline the return process and improve migration management between both countries.
Speaking on the development, Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigeria’s participation reflects its commitment to international cooperation and responsible migration governance. He emphasised the need for openness and fairness in maintaining strong diplomatic ties.
UK officials also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance in migration matters, noting its position as the largest source of visa applicants in Africa. Authorities stressed that individuals who violate immigration laws would be subject to removal under the strengthened framework.
Beyond deportations, the agreement includes provisions for joint intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to combat organised immigration crime. Both countries plan to target networks involved in visa fraud, fake employment schemes, sham marriages, and forged documentation.
The partnership will also address financial and cyber-related crimes, including romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related offences. A collaborative “fusion cell” model is expected to bring together government agencies, financial institutions, and technology firms to improve enforcement and information sharing.
Nigeria is also expected to review and strengthen its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on immigration-related offences, further reinforcing the objectives of the agreement.
The deal marks a significant step in UK-Nigeria relations on migration control, following previous efforts by the UK to manage illegal migration through international partnerships.
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