Nigeria Agrees to Accept Failed Asylum Seekers, Criminals, Others in New UK Migration Deal

Nigeria has entered into a new agreement with the United Kingdom that will allow British authorities to deport failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African country.

The deal was signed by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood during the state visit of Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom, according to the UK Home Office.

Under the agreement, the UK will also be able to return visa overstayers to Nigeria. A key provision allows Nigerian authorities to accept UK-issued identification letters for individuals without valid passports, removing a longstanding administrative barrier to deportations.

Officials did not disclose when the arrangement will take effect or how long it will last. Financial terms, if any, were also not made public.

The development follows the UK’s earlier migration deal with Rwanda in 2022, which involved significant financial commitments but was later abandoned after Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as unworkable.

According to available figures, 961 Nigerian nationals in the UK have exhausted their asylum appeals, while more than 1,100 Nigerian offenders are awaiting deportation. Both groups are expected to be processed more quickly under the new framework.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s participation reflects its commitment to international obligations and bilateral cooperation. UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris described Nigeria as a key partner in efforts to address illegal migration.

The agreement also includes provisions for joint operations targeting organised immigration crime. Authorities from both countries plan to share intelligence on networks involved in visa fraud, sham marriages, and forged documentation.

In addition, a joint initiative will focus on tackling financial crimes such as romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency-related schemes. A “fusion cell” model—bringing together government agencies, financial institutions, and technology firms—will be used to improve real-time intelligence sharing and enforcement.

Nigeria is expected to review its legal framework on immigration-related offences as part of the broader cooperation.