Immigration: Nigeria, UK ink fresh agreements on deportations, financial crimes, others

*Nigeria and the United Kingdom release updates on e-Visa projects, sign new treaties to strengthen cooperation on immigration, criminal justice, and financial crimes, pledging to fast-track the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Organised Immigration Crime, to focus on tackling irregular migration and border criminalities

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to recent far-reaching reforms the foreign country has made on immigration, and related matters, Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) have reached new agreements to strengthen cooperation on immigration, criminal justice, and financial crimes.

ConsumerConnect gathered Nigeria and the UK signed the agreement during the 2025 Nigeria–UK Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue (MJHA), held Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

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The two countries noted this development, in a joint communiqué signed by Asari Allotey for Nigeria, and Asim Hafeez for the United Kingdom.

Senior officials from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Home Office co-chaired the annual dialogue, which is said to be part of an ongoing partnership aimed at promoting secure borders, fair migration, and the rule of law.

A major highlight of the 2025 Dialogue was the re-affirmation of both Nigeria and UK’s commitment to returning individuals without legal status in each other’s territories, under the framework of the 2022 Migration Returns Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The communiqué also stated: “Returning those that no longer have a legal right to remain in the UK is a top priority for the UK Government.”

Both countries, however, agreed to strengthen operational cooperation to ensure that all returns are conducted safely, humanely, and with respect for human rights.

Updates on Nigeria, UK e-Visa projects

The UK, at the forum, also announced progress in its Electronic Visa (e-Visa) rollout, promising to extend the system across all visa categories by the time of the next MJHA meeting 2026.

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The statement further noted that the UK has offered to “support Nigerian business travellers, and simplify visit visa applications,” as part of broader efforts at promoting trade and investment.

Nigeria, at the 2025 Dialogue, also assured the UK of sharing updates on its own Nigeria e-Visa project, which is being developed to facilitate easier entry for international visitors, investors, and business partners.

In regard to migration management, both countries agreed to fast-track the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Organised Immigration Crime, which will focus on tackling irregular migration and border crimes.

The UK as well pledged to expand training programmes for Nigeria immigration officers, particularly in the Organised Immigration Crime Unit, to “enable wider coverage and cascading of knowledge for enhanced responsiveness.”

Nigeria and the UK agreed to collaborate on a Strategic Serious Organised Crime Threat Analysis, the first of its kind in West Africa.

The countries’ officials thus described the latest treaty as “a historic agreement that demonstrates the solid commitment between the two countries on combating serious organised crime.”

The UK, at the bilateral meeting, formally handed over the Brighter Futures PREVENT programme to Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The communiqué indicated the initiative was designed to steer vulnerable youths away from organised crimes and extremism, and it would now be fully run by Nigerian agencies.

The West African country pledged to sustain the momentum of the programme, and provide updates on implementation at both Federal and state levels at the next dialogue in 2026, while also calling for “continued UK support beyond March 2026”.

As regards extradition, both Nigeria and the UK agreed to strengthen cooperation to ensure faster processes, and prevent offenders from escaping justice in either jurisdiction.

The UK will continue to share information with its courts regarding detention conditions in Nigeria, to maintain transparency in extradition cases.

The two countries, therefore, resolved to hold quarterly technical meetings to review progress on extradition and broader criminal justice matters, the communiqué added.

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