Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a migration agreement to facilitate the deportation of failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders, ensuring that returnees are treated with dignity, retain legal rights under domestic law, and may be allowed to re-enter if they meet immigration requirements. The deal was signed by Nigeria’s Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the UK.
The framework outlines secure procedures for repatriation, including identity verification, provision of travel documents, and protections for vulnerable individuals, including potential trafficking victims. It also sets the stage for broader bilateral cooperation on migration management, border security, information sharing, capacity building, and joint research.
The agreement responds to mounting pressure on the UK to expedite deportations, with 961 Nigerian nationals who exhausted asylum appeals and 1,110 foreign national offenders currently awaiting removal. Under the new arrangement, bureaucratic hurdles, such as passport verification, will be reduced through the acceptance of diplomatic notes known as “UK Letters” for certain cases.
UK officials, including Home Office Minister Alex Norris, welcomed the deal as a tool to swiftly remove ineligible migrants while strengthening cooperation against irregular migration and criminal networks exploiting visa systems. Nigerian authorities emphasized that the arrangement also guarantees humane treatment, legal safeguards, and reintegration support for returnees.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to responsible bilateral engagement and described the agreement as a potential template for future partnerships. The deal coincided with discussions on trade, security, and diplomatic cooperation during Nigeria’s first state visit to the UK in nearly four decades, highlighting a strengthened partnership between the two nations.
