UK, Nigeria Sign Deal to Return Failed Asylum Seekers, Overstayers

• The UK and Nigeria have signed a new agreement to facilitate the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and offenders.
• The deal introduces “UK letters” as valid travel documents and aims to strengthen migration control and cooperation between both countries.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have signed a new agreement aimed at enabling the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders.

The deal was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the UK, according to the UK Home Office.

The agreement is designed to strengthen migration control and enhance bilateral cooperation between both countries.

Under the arrangement, the UK will be able to return individuals with no legal right to remain in the country, including failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders. It also covers visa overstayers and introduces new administrative measures to ease deportation processes.

A key provision allows Nigeria, for the first time, to accept “UK letters” alternative identification documents issued to individuals without valid passports in place of standard travel documents. The UK Home Office said this removes a major bureaucratic hurdle that previously delayed deportations.

Although the start date, duration, and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, there are still questions about whether it will apply strictly to Nigerian nationals or extend to other nationalities.

Data from UK authorities indicate that about 961 Nigerians have exhausted their asylum appeal rights, while an additional 1,110 Nigerian offenders are awaiting deportation, suggesting the agreement could significantly speed up removals.

Speaking on the development, Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations.

“We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations. To sustain that relationship, we must be as open and as fair as possible,” he said.

UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, described Nigeria as a key partner in tackling illegal migration.

“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said, adding that “anyone who abuses our system, breaks our laws or attempts to circumvent immigration rules will be removed.”

The agreement also includes plans for joint operations and intelligence sharing to combat organised immigration crime, including visa fraud, sham marriages, and forged financial records. Nigeria is also expected to review its legal framework to strengthen penalties for immigration-related offences.