The United Kingdom government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is intensifying efforts to expedite the return of irregular migrants, including those from Nigeria.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address growing asylum-seeking backlogs.
On Thursday, an official announcement revealed a £15 million ($19.7 million) contract aimed at facilitating the “reintegration” of migrants into their home countries over the next three years.
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The contract seeks commercial partners to support the reintegration process in 11 countries, including Albania, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
The contractors will provide various services, such as food packs, family tracing assistance, and help with accessing job markets.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper emphasized the government’s goal to achieve the highest deportation rates in five years, aiming to remove over 14,000 failed asylum seekers by year-end.
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She stated that a significant increase in immigration enforcement and returns activity is planned.
Prime Minister Starmer has also pledged to dismantle smuggling networks that facilitate irregular migration across the English Channel.
Despite the ongoing measures, refugee charities advocate for more safe and legal asylum routes to deter dangerous journeys.
As of June 2024, nearly 119,000 people were awaiting asylum decisions, underscoring the challenges facing the UK in its immigration and asylum policies.
