Nigeria, UK Sign Agreement on Deportation of Offenders

On a state visit to the UK, Nigeria's Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a new agreement aimed at deporting failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders. This deal allows the UK to return thousands of individuals without legal rights to remain in the country, including those who have overstayed visas.

A significant provision of the agreement enables Nigeria to accept UK letters as alternative identification documents for individuals lacking valid passports, streamlining the deportation process. The agreement is expected to significantly accelerate the removal of individuals, including 961 Nigerians who have exhausted asylum appeals and 1,110 awaiting deportation.

The UK Minister for Border Security, Alex Norris, emphasized Nigeria's role as a key partner in addressing illegal migration. The partnership will also focus on dismantling criminal networks involved in visa fraud and online scams, with plans for joint operations and intelligence sharing.