The United Kingdom has signed a new agreement with Nigeria to accelerate the return of individuals with no legal right to remain in Britain, in a move aimed at tightening immigration controls while maintaining fairness in the system.

The agreement, announced in a statement by the UK Home Office, was reached between UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Under the deal, one of the major administrative barriers to deportations has been removed, allowing UK authorities to return undocumented migrants without waiting for emergency travel certificates from Nigeria. Instead, “UK letters”, alternative identification documents issued to individuals without valid passports, will now be recognised by the Nigerian government for the first time.

According to the UK authorities, the agreement is part of broader immigration reforms designed to secure borders and deter irregular migration. The new framework will enable the faster removal of visa overstayers, foreign offenders and failed asylum seekers.

The development coincided with the recent state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, during which both countries reaffirmed commitments to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said the agreement would help restore order to the immigration system by ensuring that individuals without legal status are swiftly removed.
“Anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed”, he stated.
He described Nigeria as a critical partner in tackling illegal migration, noting that it remains the UK’s largest visa market in Africa and home to a significant Nigerian diaspora.

On his part, Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria remained committed to fulfilling its international obligations and maintaining a strong bilateral relationship with the UK. He added that the partnership would serve as a model for future agreements with other countries.
“For us, as a country, we keep saying that we are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations.

It is good that we are starting this with the UK. This relationship with the UK means a lot to Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown great commitment to this”,he noted.

Data from UK authorities show that annual returns to Nigeria have nearly doubled to about 1,150, while total returns and deportations of illegal migrants and foreign criminals have reached nearly 60,000 since 2024.

Beyond deportations, both countries agreed to expand cooperation on tackling immigration-related crimes. This includes launching joint operations and enhancing intelligence-sharing to dismantle criminal networks exploiting visa systems.

The agreement also introduces a standardised document verification system to curb fraud, following a rise in cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial records. Nigeria is expected to review its laws to impose stricter penalties on immigration offenders.

In addition, both sides pledged to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children at risk of exploitation, while improving business visa processes to support trade and investment.

The partnership further extends to combating online fraud, including romance scams, investment fraud and cryptocurrency-related crimes. A new “fusion cell” model will be deployed, bringing together government agencies, financial institutions, technology firms and telecommunications companies to share intelligence and respond rapidly to threats.

The initiative builds on existing collaboration involving the National Crime Agency and Nigerian authorities. Earlier operations with the Nigerian Police Force and Meta led to the identification of hundreds of fraudulent online accounts and the arrest of suspects linked to cryptocurrency scams.

UK officials said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to safe, orderly and well-managed migration, while strengthening enforcement against abuse of both countries’ immigration systems.