The Presidency on Saturday dismissed claims that Nigeria had agreed to accept foreign nationals deported from the United Kingdom under a new migration partnership signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Britain, insisting that the agreement only covers the return of bona fide nationals of both countries.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the State House said widespread reports and social media commentary suggesting that Nigeria would serve as a destination for non-Nigerian deportees were false and misleading.
The clarification followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on immigration cooperation between Nigeria’s Minister of Interior and the UK Home Secretary on the sidelines of Tinubu’s historic state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. President Tinubu was in the UK from March 18 to 19 at the invitation of King Charles III, in a visit both governments described as a major diplomatic milestone.
According to the Presidency, the agreement was designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on safe, regulated migration, while also tackling irregular migration and related cross-border offences in line with the immigration laws of both countries and applicable international treaties.
Onanuga stressed that “nowhere in the 12-page memorandum is Nigeria required to accept foreign nationals other than Nigerians.” He said any person to be repatriated under the arrangement must pass through “multiple levels of identification and verification” before removal can be approved.
He added that where mistakes occur and a returnee is later found not to be a national of the receiving country, such a person would be returned to the requesting country at that country’s cost, in line with the provisions of the agreement.
The Presidency said the MoU provides that both Nigeria and the UK will work together only for the “dignified return of their nationals” who no longer have the legal right to enter or remain in the territory of the other country.
It further noted that the agreement expressly requires that returnees must be treated with dignity and respect, with due regard to their human rights and fundamental freedoms, while law enforcement agencies in both countries are expected to act to protect the welfare of affected citizens and reduce conflict triggers linked to migration issues.
Defending the pact, the State House also said the new framework offers stronger protections for returnees than previous arrangements, including provisions allowing them to travel with their legally acquired personal belongings and make adequate arrangements for the transfer or disposal of property before removal.
The Presidency also pointed to clauses allowing individuals facing deportation to pursue claims under relevant **domestic or international human rights laws**, especially in cases where the person has lived lawfully in the requesting country for most of their life or may face serious reintegration challenges in the country of return.
On the documentation process, the State House rejected suggestions that Nigeria had surrendered immigration control to the UK, saying the agreement clearly provides that it remains the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Immigration Service to issue and manage any Nigerian documentation required for returnees under Nigerian law.
The statement also highlighted reintegration support for returnees, including airport reception, temporary accommodation, onward transportation, documentation assistance, counselling services and possible access to education, entrepreneurship and vocational support programmes to help them settle back into society.
According to the Presidency, the latest MoU is not entirely new, noting that similar migration and returns agreements were previously entered into by both countries in 2012, 2017 and 2022. It said the current deal is for an initial five-year period, renewable by mutual agreement.
The Federal Government had, even before the state visit, indicated that Nigeria and the UK were already working to update existing migration management and returns arrangements as part of broader security and justice cooperation between both countries. Recent official and media reports had shown both governments moving to deepen collaboration on migration, border security and criminal justice matters.
The Presidency therefore urged media organisations and members of the public to seek clarification on sensitive diplomatic matters before publishing reports capable of misleading Nigerians.
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