The governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have reached a new agreement to strengthen cooperation on migration, particularly the return of individuals without legal status in the UK.
Under the arrangement, Nigeria will now recognise UK-issued identification letters—documents provided to individuals without valid passports—eliminating delays previously caused by the need for emergency travel certificates before deportation.
The deal was finalised during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the UK, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the agreement as historic.
UK Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said the partnership would strengthen efforts to curb illegal migration and ensure faster return of individuals without the legal right to remain in the UK. He noted that Nigeria remains a key partner, given its large diaspora population and status as the UK’s biggest visa market in Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to responsible migration management, stressing the importance of transparency, fairness, and mutual respect in bilateral relations.
The agreement also includes plans for joint operations and intelligence sharing to tackle criminal networks involved in visa fraud, including fake job offers, sham marriages, and forged documents.
In addition, both countries will introduce a standardised document verification system to improve the integrity of visa applications, while Nigeria is expected to tighten its legal framework and impose stricter penalties for immigration-related offences.
Officials say the deal reflects a shared commitment to safe and orderly migration, with recent data showing that deportations to Nigeria have increased significantly in recent years.
The agreement follows the collapse of the UK’s earlier migration deal with Rwanda, which was scrapped after legal challenges and a change in government.
