UK asylum deal applies only to illegal Nigerian migrants, not foreigners — Presidency

The Presidency has addressed claims surrounding a recently signed migration agreement with the United Kingdom, stressing that the deal applies strictly to Nigerians residing illegally in the UK.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the clarification became necessary following reports suggesting Nigeria had agreed to accept foreign deportees.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, Ajayi explained that the agreement only concerns Nigerians who lack legal status to live and remain in the UK.

He said: “For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement signed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, and the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK.

“The Nigerian government is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens. This clarification becomes necessary because of those who have already revved up their misinformation machinery.”

Ajayi added that the agreement guarantees that returnees who are Nigerian citizens will be treated with dignity, retain their rights under domestic law, and may re-enter the UK in the future if they meet applicable immigration requirements.

The Ministry of Interior, in a separate statement, noted that the arrangement provides a framework for the dignified return and reintegration of Nigerians without legal residency in the UK.

According to the ministry, the deal includes the use of secure travel documentation, case-by-case identity verification, and safeguards for vulnerable individuals, including potential victims of trafficking.

It also outlines areas of cooperation such as information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research on migration management and border security.

Recall that Nigeria on Thursday signed the agreement with the UK to facilitate the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders, as part of efforts to strengthen migration control and bilateral ties.

The agreement was signed by Tunji-Ojo and Mahmood during President Tinubu’s state visit to the UK, according to the UK Home Office.

Under the deal, the UK can return individuals with no legal right to remain in the country, including failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders.

It also introduces administrative measures to ease deportation, including allowing Nigeria to accept “UK letters”, alternative identification documents issued to individuals without valid passports, to speed up the process.