No non-Nigerian in UK-deportation deal – Presidency

The Presidency has clarified that the recent agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom on the return of individuals with no legal status in the UK will apply exclusively to Nigerian citizens.

The deal, which targets failed asylum seekers, criminals, and visa overstayers, does not include foreign nationals, according to a statement on Friday by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.

“Nigerian government is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens,” Ajayi said, stressing that the clarification was necessary to curb misinformation.

He added that Nigerian returnees would be “treated with dignity, rights retention under domestic law, and may re-enter in the future if they meet the applicable immigration requirements.”

Alao Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, also confirmed the exclusivity of the agreement, noting that foreign nationals are excluded.

Under the framework, the Nigerian government will, for the first time, accept UK-issued letters and alternative identification certificates for individuals without valid passports to facilitate their return. Previously, emergency travel documents were used as supplementary IDs.

The Ministry of Interior added that deportation arrangements would be conducted on a case-by-case identity verification basis, and the agreement also outlines cooperation in information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research on migration management and border security