Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a new agreement aimed at accelerating the return of Nigerian nationals without legal status in Britain, including visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers.
The deal was finalised during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the UK, with both countries pledging closer cooperation on migration management and border control.
The agreement was reached between the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Under the arrangement, the UK will now be able to return affected individuals using “UK letters,” an alternative identification document for persons without valid passports, following Nigeria’s decision to recognise such documents.
“Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under a new agreement struck this week during the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
“UK letters, an alternative identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport and used to support the return of people with no right to remain in the UK, will be recognised by the Nigerian government for the first time.
“The agreement, reached between the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, removes one of the major administrative hurdles to returning people, meaning the UK will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued by Nigeria,” the UK Home Office stated.
UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said the deal strengthens efforts to curb illegal migration.
“Anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws, or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed.
“Today’s agreement is another step in our mission to restore order to the border by ensuring those who have no right to be here are swiftly removed,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to responsible migration practices, describing the agreement as a reflection of the country’s readiness to meet its international obligations.
“For us, as a country, we keep saying that we are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations. It is good that we are starting this with the UK.
“This relationship with the UK means a lot to Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown great commitment to this. So it is one relationship that we aim to be able to sustain for generations yet to come.
“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. Hopefully, this strengthened partnership will be a template for other bilateral understandings,” he said.
The UK Home Office noted that the agreement forms part of broader reforms to tighten immigration controls, adding that returns to Nigeria have nearly doubled to 1,150 annually, while total deportations from the UK have reached about 60,000 since the 2024 general election.
Both countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in tackling immigration-related crimes, including fake job sponsorships, sham marriages, and forged documents. A new document verification system will be introduced, while Nigeria is expected to review its laws to ensure stricter penalties for offenders.
The partnership will further extend to combating financial and cyber crimes, including romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related offences, while also improving legitimate business travel and investment opportunities between both nations.
