The Presidency on Friday clarified the presently signed repatriation agreement with the United Kingdom, emphasising that it exclusively applies Nigerian citizens lacking legal status in the UK and that the Nigerian government won’t accept deportees from other countries.
Top Society had reported that as part of high-level engagements between both countries during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the UK, a pact was sealed by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the UK’s Home Secretary, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood to facilitate the return of Nigerians who overstayed work or visit visas.
The agreement will see Nigeria accept diplomatic notes – known as ‘UK Letters’ – in lieu of travel documents such as passports during the deportation process. Thousands of Nigerians live and work legally in the UK. However, many also overstay their visas and are thus considered to be in the UK illegally.
Some have also been convicted of crimes and asked to leave the UK, while there are also many whose asylum request was denied.
The latest agreement will make it easier to return the last three categories to Nigeria.
The agreement means that the Nigerian government will now recognise UK letters – an identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport – so people will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued before they can be returned.
Rebuffing the misinformation that’s already generating criticisms in some quarters, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, stressed that the deal does not obligate Nigeria to accept non-citizens.
“The Nigerian government is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens,” he said.
The agreement ensures dignified treatment for returnees, including retention of rights under Nigerian domestic law and the possibility of future re-entry if immigration criteria are met.
It outlines detailed protocols for repatriation and reintegration, such as secured travel documents, case-by-case identity checks, and protections for vulnerable individuals and potential trafficking victims.
Ajayi referenced the Ministry of Interior’s social media post, noting that the framework also promotes cooperation on information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research in migration management and border security.
