In a significant policy shift, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed a landmark agreement with the United Kingdom that will allow for the deportation of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers to Nigeria.
This move comes less than a year after the administration famously rejected a similar proposal from the United States to house 300 Venezuelan prisoners and deportees.
The UK Home Office announced the deal during President Tinubu’s state visit, highlighting it as a major step to decongest British facilities and remove illegal immigrants.
According to the official statement: “Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under a new agreement struck this week during the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.”
A historical first in this agreement is the introduction of “UK letters,” which the Home Office noted “will be recognised by the Nigerian government for the first time.”
These letters will serve as alternative travel identification to fast-track the deportation of individuals who do not possess a valid passport.
