The Presidency has dismissed widespread reports alleging that Nigeria agreed to accept foreign deportees under a new migration pact with the United Kingdom, clarifying that the agreement strictly applies to Nigerian citizens residing illegally abroad.
The clarification was issued on Friday by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Publicity, who described the circulating claims as “misleading narratives.”
In a statement shared via his 𝕏 handle, Ajayi explained that the agreement—signed during Tinubu’s recent state visit to the UK—is limited in scope and does not include non-Nigerians.
“For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK,” he said.
He firmly stated that Nigeria would not accept deportees who are not its citizens.
“Nigeria is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens,” Ajayi added.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of Nigeria, and Shabana Mahmoodfor the British government.
According to the Presidency, the deal focuses solely on the return of Nigerians without legal residency status in the UK, while also ensuring humane treatment in line with Nigerian laws and international standards.
Ajayi further noted that returnees would retain the right to reapply for entry into the UK, provided they meet existing immigration requirements.
Supporting the Presidency’s stance, the Federal Ministry of Interior Nigeria said the agreement establishes a structured system for the “dignified return and reintegration” of affected individuals.
Key components of the pact include secure travel documentation, proper identity verification, and protections for vulnerable persons, particularly victims of human trafficking. It also promotes stronger collaboration between Nigeria and the UK in areas such as information sharing, training, and border security research.
The Federal Government maintained that the agreement represents a balanced and lawful approach to managing migration, while safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Ajayi emphasized that the clarification became necessary to counter false reports suggesting a broader deportation arrangement, insisting such claims are inaccurate.