Nigeria, UK sign deal for deportation of failed asylum seekers, offenders

Nigeria has entered into a fresh agreement with the United Kingdom that will enable British authorities to repatriate thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African nation.

The deal was formalised by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Britain, according to a statement released by the Home Office on Thursday.

Tinubu’s visit lasted two days, covering Wednesday and Thursday.

As part of the arrangement, the UK will also be able to return individuals who have overstayed their visas, with the framework offering broad operational flexibility to British authorities.

A key provision of the agreement is Nigeria’s acceptance, for the first time, of UK-issued letters as valid identification for deportees without passports. These documents serve as alternative proof of identity for individuals who lack proper travel papers and are used to facilitate their return.

Previously, Nigeria relied on emergency travel certificates as supporting identification for undocumented travellers.

The Home Office noted that Nigeria’s decision to recognise UK letters removes a significant bureaucratic barrier that has historically delayed deportations.

Details such as the commencement date and duration of the agreement have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the deal includes any financial arrangement.

In 2022, Britain signed a comparable agreement with Rwanda, committing at least £370 million to relocate asylum seekers. However, that plan collapsed after Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as “dead”.

It is also yet to be confirmed whether the deportation arrangement will apply exclusively to Nigerian nationals or extend to individuals of other nationalities.

According to reports, there are currently 961 Nigerian failed asylum seekers in the UK who have exhausted all legal appeals.

Additionally, the Home Office is awaiting the deportation of 1,110 Nigerian nationals convicted of crimes.

With the new agreement in place, both categories are expected to face quicker removal.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s signatory to the deal shows that “we are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations”.

“And for us to sustain that relationship, we must remember: ‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ So, we need to be as open and as fair as possible,” the minister said.

Alex Norris, the UK minister for border security and asylum, described Nigeria as a crucial partner in addressing irregular migration, noting its status as the UK’s largest visa market in Africa.

“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said, adding that “anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed”.

The Home Office further disclosed that both countries have agreed to deepen cooperation through joint enforcement operations and intelligence sharing aimed at dismantling criminal networks exploiting visa pathways.

The agreement follows a series of notable cases involving fraudulent job sponsorships, sham marriages, and falsified financial and employment documentation.

Nigeria is also expected to review its legal framework on immigration-related offences, with the aim of imposing stricter penalties on offenders.

In addition, a new collaborative initiative will target online fraudsters engaged in romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related crimes, enhancing protection for UK residents.

The initiative, described as a “fusion cell” model, will unite government agencies, financial institutions, technology firms, and telecom companies to share intelligence swiftly and respond more effectively to evolving criminal methods.