The Presidency on Friday dismissed reports suggesting that Nigeria had agreed to accept foreign deportees under a newly signed migration agreement with the United Kingdom, clarifying that the deal strictly covers Nigerian citizens residing illegally in the UK.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the clarification became necessary amid what he described as widespread misinformation surrounding the agreement.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, @TheTope_Ajayi, Ajayi explained that the pact, signed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent State Visit to the UK, is limited in scope and does not oblige Nigeria to receive non-citizens.
He stated that the agreement, executed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of Nigeria, and the UK Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Shabana Mahmood, for the British government, focuses solely on the return of Nigerians without legal residency status in the UK.
“For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK,” Ajayi said.
He stressed that Nigeria would not accept deportees who are not its nationals, adding that the UK government is equally not imposing such a condition.
“Nigeria is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens,” he added.
Ajayi noted that the clarification was prompted by the circulation of misleading narratives suggesting that Nigeria had entered into a broader deportation arrangement with the UK.
He further assured that the agreement provides guarantees for the humane treatment of returnees, in line with Nigerian laws and international standards.
According to him, Nigerians returned under the framework would retain the opportunity to reapply for entry into the UK in the future, subject to meeting immigration requirements.
Corroborating the Presidency’s position, the Ministry of Interior said the agreement establishes a structured system for the “dignified return and reintegration of Nigerians who do not have the legal right to remain in the UK.”
In a statement shared on social media, the ministry outlined key features of the arrangement, including the use of secure travel documentation, thorough identity verification on a case-by-case basis, and special protections for vulnerable persons, particularly victims of human trafficking.
The ministry also highlighted provisions for enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and the UK in areas such as information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research on migration management and border security.
The Federal Government maintained that the agreement reflects a balanced and lawful approach to migration issues, while safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and the rights of its citizens.
Credit: thenationonline.net
