The Presidency has clarified growing concerns surrounding Nigeria’s recent migration agreement with the United Kingdom, stating that foreign nationals will not be deported to Nigeria under the deal.
The clarification comes amid widespread reactions following reports that Nigeria had signed an agreement allowing the UK to deport visa overstayers, failed asylum seekers, and criminals. According to the Presidency, the deal has been widely misunderstood.
Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi explained that the agreement applies strictly to Nigerian citizens who do not have legal permission to remain in the UK, and not to foreigners of other nationalities.
He emphasised that Nigeria will only receive its own citizens and will not accept deported individuals who are not Nigerians. The clarification, he said, became necessary due to misinformation suggesting that the country would serve as a destination for foreign deportees.
The migration deal, signed during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the UK, is aimed at strengthening cooperation between both countries on immigration control and tackling illegal migration. It includes provisions to facilitate the return of individuals without valid residency status in the UK.
Under the agreement, the UK can more easily return Nigerians who have overstayed visas, failed asylum seekers, or committed offences, with new measures introduced to simplify identification and travel documentation processes.
However, the Presidency stressed that the framework does not include any provision for relocating non-Nigerians to Nigeria, dismissing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
Officials also noted that the agreement ensures that returning Nigerians will be treated with dignity and in accordance with local laws, including provisions for reintegration and protection of their rights.
The clarification has helped to ease concerns among Nigerians who feared that the country might become a destination for deported migrants from other nations.
The government reiterated its commitment to responsible migration policies while maintaining that Nigeria will only accept the return of its own citizens under the UK agreement.
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