Nigeria has signed a new agreement with the United Kingdom to facilitate the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders, in a move aimed at strengthening migration control and bilateral cooperation. 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 on Thursday. Under the agreement, the UK will be able to return thousands of individuals with no legal right to remain in the country, including failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders. The partnership will further target online fraud, including romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes. The deal follows previous UK migration arrangements, including a controversial 2022 agreement with Rwanda, which was later scrapped.

Source: Punch March 19, 2026 20:58 UTC