BREAKING: Nigeria agrees to take back deported criminals, failed asylum seekers from UK

The Nigerian and British governments have reached a new agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration, particularly the return of individuals without legal status in the United Kingdom.

Under the arrangement, Nigeria will recognise UK-issued identification letters—documents given to individuals without valid passports—thereby eliminating delays associated with obtaining emergency travel certificates before deportation.

The agreement was concluded during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the engagement as “historic.”

Britain’s Border Security and Asylum Minister, Alex Norris, said the deal would enhance efforts to curb illegal migration and ensure that individuals without legal rights to remain in the UK are promptly returned. He described Nigeria as a critical partner, noting its position as the UK’s largest African visa market and home to a large diaspora community.

On Nigeria’s part, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to responsible migration management and international cooperation. He stressed that maintaining strong bilateral relations requires transparency, fairness, and mutual respect.

The agreement also includes plans for joint operations and intelligence sharing between both countries to dismantle criminal networks exploiting visa systems through fraudulent practices such as fake job offers, sham marriages, and forged documentation.

As part of the framework, a new standardised document verification system will be introduced to improve the integrity of visa applications, while Nigeria is expected to review its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on immigration-related offences.

Officials noted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to safe, orderly, and well-managed migration. Recent data shows that annual returns to Nigeria have nearly doubled, while the UK has recorded tens of thousands of deportations involving illegal migrants and foreign offenders in recent years.

The agreement follows the collapse of the United Kingdom’s earlier migration arrangement with Rwanda, which had faced prolonged legal challenges and was eventually scrapped after a change in government.

The new Nigeria-UK framework is expected to serve as a model for future bilateral migration agreements, as both countries seek to balance border security with fairness and international obligations.

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