UK–Nigeria asylum agreement applies only to Nigerians without legal status, Presidency clarifies

The Presidency has clarified that the recently signed migration and asylum agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom applies strictly to Nigerian citizens who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK.

The clarification was made on Friday by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, following what he described as misinformation surrounding the agreement.

According to Ajayi, the agreement was signed on Thursday during President Tinubu’s state visit by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of Nigeria, and the UK Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Shabana Mahmood, representing the British government.

He stressed that the agreement does not involve Nigeria accepting non-Nigerian migrants.

“For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement signed only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK. The Nigerian government is not taking back non-Nigerians, and the UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens,” Ajayi stated.

He explained that the clarification became necessary due to the spread of misleading information about the arrangement.

Ajayi further noted that the agreement guarantees that Nigerian returnees will be treated with dignity and in accordance with their rights under Nigerian law, while also retaining the possibility of re-entering the UK in the future if they meet existing immigration requirements.

In a related statement via its a social media post, the Ministry of Interior said the agreement provides a structured process for the dignified return and reintegration of Nigerians without legal residency rights in the UK.

According to the ministry, the framework includes the use of secure travel documents, case-by-case identity verification, and safeguards for vulnerable persons, including potential victims of human trafficking.