The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reached a landmark agreement aimed at making it faster and simpler to return people who are in the UK illegally. Under the new arrangement, Nigerian authorities will accept UK letters—identification issued to those without valid passports, removing the need for emergency travel documents before deportation.
The deal was formalised during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the UK, a historic trip marking the first time in 37 years a West African leader has visited the country.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the visit as "historic," while King Charles hosted a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, highlighting the strong relationship between the two nations.
President Tinubu also met the prime minister at No 10 Downing Street, where the leaders agreed to expand collaboration on trade, infrastructure, and sustainable development. A spokesperson for Downing Street said the discussions also focused on enhancing joint efforts on security and defence to combat terrorism and cross-border crime.
According to the Home Office, the immigration deal will ease the return of visa overstayers, foreign criminals, and rejected asylum seekers. Returns to Nigeria have almost doubled to 1,150 a year.
The two governments also agreed to share intelligence and conduct joint operations to dismantle criminal networks exploiting visa systems. Additionally, a standardised document-checking system will be introduced to verify the authenticity of visa and employment applications, following cases involving sham marriages, fake job sponsorships, and forged financial records.
Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said, "Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK's largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here." Nigeria will also review its laws to ensure harsher penalties for immigration offenders.
In parallel with the immigration agreement, the UK and Nigeria signed a £746m deal to refurbish two major ports in Lagos with UK-backed financing.
At least 20 percent of the contracts will be awarded to UK suppliers, including £70m in British steel, the largest UK steel export supported by government-backed loans. The initiative aligns with the UK’s strategy to boost its domestic steel production.
During the visit, President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu visited Westminster Abbey and laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The visit also marked the first time a Muslim leader visited the UK during Ramadan in almost a century.
Windsor Castle was adapted to accommodate fasting, including setting aside a prayer room, and the usual royal lunch did not take place. First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who is Christian, also visited Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The visit comes amid security challenges in Nigeria, including recent suspected suicide bombings in Borno state, which left at least 23 people dead and 108 injured, attacks attributed to Boko Haram militants.
