UK, Nigeria Agree Deal to Return Illegal Migrants
Last update: March 20, 2026
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New UK-Nigeria pact targets illegal immigration removals...
Britain has reached a new agreement with Nigeria to facilitate the return of illegal migrants, the UK Home Office said on Thursday.
The move is targeted at easing pressure on the country’s immigration system.
Under the deal, visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be deported more efficiently, including individuals without valid passports. For the first time, such individuals will be issued “UK letters” as alternative travel documents, which Nigeria has agreed to recognise.
The agreement was reached during the state visit of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, according to the Home Office.
“This will allow those with no documentation to be returned far more quickly,” the department said in a statement.
The development comes amid wider diplomatic tensions involving Nigeria and Western countries over migration policies.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, previously criticised the United States over a proposed deportation arrangement in July 2025, in which Washington reportedly sought Nigeria’s acceptance of 300 Venezuelan prisoners. Tuggar rejected the proposal, saying Nigeria could not accommodate foreign inmates given its domestic challenges.
His remarks followed a U.S. decision to scale back visa access for Nigerian non-immigrants, reducing five-year multiple-entry visas to single-entry permits valid for three months.
Nigerians also face ongoing restrictions affecting visa processing for students and tourists, limiting travel to the United States, including for sporting events such as this year’s World Cup.
