Thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders could soon be removed from the United Kingdom to Nigeria following a fresh bilateral agreement between both countries.
The UK Home Office confirmed that the deal was finalised with Nigerian authorities during the ongoing state visit of President Bola Tinubu.
Officials in Britain say the arrangement is designed to simplify deportation procedures and reduce bureaucratic delays, with Nigeria expected to accept a greater number of returnees.
Available figures indicate that 961 Nigerian nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected and who have exhausted all appeal options are currently in the UK. This means they have definitively been ruled to have no claim to refugee status in the UK.
In addition, the Home Office is awaiting the deportation of 1,110 Nigerian foreign national offenders.
Under the new framework, both categories are now more likely to be removed from Britain. The deal will also apply to Nigerians who have overstayed work or visit visas.
A key provision allows Nigerian authorities to accept diplomatic notes — referred to as ‘UK Letters’ — instead of standard travel documents like passports during deportation proceedings.
At present, one of the major challenges facing the Home Office in deportation cases is the delay in obtaining passports or travel documents from countries of origin, which are required before individuals can be repatriated.
The agreement was signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Home Office minister Alex Norris said: “Today’s agreement is another step in our mission to restore order to the border by ensuring those who have no right to be here are swiftly removed.
“Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK’s largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here. We owe everyone across the system fairness.”
Dr Tunji-Ojo said the Nigeria was “totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations” and added: “Hopefully, this strengthened partnership will be a template for other bilateral understandings.”
Beyond deportations, the wider agreement includes measures to combat cybercrime and fraud.
Authorities note that a notable share of international fraud targeting UK victims originates from West Africa, including Nigeria. Both countries have therefore agreed on a “crackdown on criminal gangs abusing visa routes”, alongside the introduction of a new document-verification system to check the authenticity of applications.
Nigeria will also review its legislation to address immigration-related offences, including the possibility of stricter penalties.
The UK rolled out extensive hospitality for President Tinubu’s visit, including a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening.
In his address, King Charles described Nigeria as an “economic powerhouse, a cultural force and an influential diplomatic voice”.
Guests were served a menu featuring quail egg tartlet, followed by fillet of turbot with lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, accompanied by beurre blanc sauce, sprouting broccoli, pea and broad bean fricassee, and Jersey Royal potatoes.
Dessert consisted of an iced blackcurrant souffle with red fruit coulis, while a mocktail named ‘crimson bloom’ — made with the West African drink Zobo, English rose soda, and hibiscus and ginger syrup — was also served.
During the visit, President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu also paid a private visit to St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where they laid a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
The ongoing state visit marks Nigeria’s first official visit to the United Kingdom in 37 years.
(DAILY MAIL)
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