The Nigerian Presidency has firmly dismissed reports alleging that the country agreed to accept foreign deportees under a newly signed migration agreement with the United Kingdom.
Clarifying the development on Friday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the deal strictly applies to Nigerian citizens residing illegally in the UK and does not extend to non-Nigerians.
Ajayi explained that the clarification became necessary following the spread of misinformation about the scope of the agreement, which was signed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to the UK.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ajayi noted that the pact—executed by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood—focuses solely on the return of Nigerians without legal residency status in the UK.
“For clarity, the agreement only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK,” he stated.
He emphasized that Nigeria is under no obligation to accept deportees who are not its citizens, stressing that the UK government has not imposed such a condition.
“Nigeria is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK is not compelling Nigeria to accept individuals who are not our nationals,” Ajayi added.
According to him, the clarification was prompted by misleading narratives suggesting that the agreement involved a broader deportation arrangement.
He further assured that the deal includes provisions to ensure the humane treatment of returnees, in line with Nigerian laws and international standards. Nigerians returned under the framework, he said, would also retain the opportunity to reapply for entry into the UK, subject to immigration requirements.
Supporting the Presidency’s position, the Ministry of Interior stated that the agreement establishes a structured framework for the “dignified return and reintegration” of Nigerians without legal status in the UK.
The ministry highlighted key components of the arrangement, including secure travel documentation, case-by-case identity verification, and protections for vulnerable individuals such as victims of human trafficking.
It also noted that the agreement strengthens bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the UK in areas such as information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research on migration and border management.
The Federal Government maintained that the pact represents a balanced and lawful approach to migration, while protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and the rights of its citizens.
