Nigeria Signs Deal With UK To Receive Failed Asylum Seekers, Criminals

Nigeria has signed a new deal with the United Kingdom that allows British authorities to send thousands of people whose asylum claims have been rejected, along with Nigerians convicted of crimes.

The agreement was signed by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the UK.

The announcement was made in a statement by the Home Office on Thursday, following Tinubu’s two-day trip.

Under the deal, the UK can also return people who have overstayed their visas.

The arrangement gives British authorities more room to act when carrying out deportations.

One major change is that Nigeria will now accept letters issued by the UK as valid identification for deportees who do not have passports.

These letters will serve as proof of identity, making it easier to process their return.

In the past, Nigeria depended on emergency travel certificates for such cases.

The Home Office said this move removes a long-standing administrative hurdle that often slowed down deportations.

However, key details such as when the agreement will take effect and how long it will last have not been made public.

It is also unclear if any financial terms are attached.

The development comes after the UK previously reached a similar arrangement with Rwanda in 2022, a plan that later fell apart after Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed it as no longer workable.

It is still not certain whether the new deal will apply only to Nigerians or also include people from other countries.

Reports indicate that about 961 Nigerians in the UK have had their asylum claims rejected and exhausted all legal options.

In addition, authorities are preparing to deport around 1,110 Nigerians who have been convicted of various offences.

With this agreement, both groups are likely to be removed more quickly.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s decision to sign the deal reflects its commitment to meeting its responsibilities as a nation.

He added that maintaining strong relations requires openness and fairness.

“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.

UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, described Nigeria as an important partner in tackling illegal migration, noting that it is the UK’s largest visa market in Africa.

He stressed that the system must be fair, and that those who break the rules will be dealt with and removed.

“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 also revealed plans for closer cooperation between both countries, including joint enforcement efforts and intelligence sharing to combat criminal networks that exploit visa systems.

This follows several cases involving fake job offers, sham marriages, and forged financial or employment documents.

Nigeria is expected to review its laws on immigration-related offences, with the aim of imposing tougher penalties.

In addition, both countries plan to work together to tackle online fraud, including romance scams, investment scams, and cryptocurrency-related crimes, to better protect people in the UK.

A new joint initiative, described as a “fusion cell,” will bring together government agencies, financial institutions, tech companies, and telecom providers to share information quickly and respond more effectively to emerging threats.

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