- As UK Government Loans Nigeria £746m To Refurbish Ports
- Reach Agreement To Deport Foreign Criminals, Asylum Seekers To Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed an agreement with the United Kingdom which will enable the British authorities to dump thousands of failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals on Nigerian soil.
UK Home Office announced the landmark deal on Thursday, stating Nigeria’s partnership to help decongest the UK and rid the British territory of illegal immigrants, including those without a valid passport.
“Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under a new agreement struck this week during the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu,” the UK Home Office announced in a statement.
As part of the arrangement, the UK will also be able to return individuals who have overstayed their visas, with the framework offering broad operational flexibility to British authorities.
Officials indicate that no fewer than 2,071 Nigerians who have exhausted their asylum appeal rights, as well as convicted offenders awaiting deportation, could be affected by the arrangement.
A key provision of the agreement is Nigeria’s acceptance, for the first time, of UK-issued letters as valid identification for deportees without passports. These documents serve as alternative proof of identity for individuals who lack proper travel papers and are used to facilitate their return.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who is Nigeria’s signatory to the deal said “We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations.”
“And for us to sustain that relationship, we must remember: ‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ So, we need to be as open and as fair as possible,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, under the deal, UK Export Finance (UKEF) will guarantee a £746 million export finance loan for the refurbishment of the Apapa and Tin Can Island port complexes.
The financing arrangement will, reportedly, be coordinated by Citibank.
As part of the agreement, British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel for the port projects under a contract valued at £70 million.
The deal is expected to generate £236 million in supplier contracts for British companies, as at least 20 per cent of the project components must be sourced from the UK.
The UK government said the steel contract is the largest export, backed by UKEF for British Steel.
The loan agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by Wale Edun, Minister of Finance, and Blair McDougall MP, the parliamentary under-secretary of state and UK minister for small business and economic transformation, on behalf of the British government.
Commenting on the deals with the United Kingdom, an X user, Biggest Mack, claimed the British government would be the major beneficiary of both deals signed by the Nigerian government.
He wrote, “The UK spends roughly £6 million per day, around £2 billion a year on hotel accommodations for “failed asylum seekers.”
“That is the responsibility they now want to hand over to Nigeria after praising Nigerian jollof. This same offer was made to Afghanistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, etc, and they all rejected.
“Now, out of the £2b a year the UK will be saving from this deal, they offered Nigeria £746 million to refurbish two ports in Lagos. As part of the agreement, nearly half of the £746 million will go to British firms in supplier contracts.
“The British steel industry, which the UK government admitted was suffering, will use this opportunity to rejuvenate. When the ports are done, the UK will control Nigeria’s exports until that money is paid back. Yes, it’s a loan.”
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga in a statement on Saturday, said those who will be deported are Nigerians.
According to him, “Nowhere in the 12-page memorandum is Nigeria required to accept foreign nationals other than Nigerians. Nationals to be repatriated must have undergone multiple levels of identification and verification, and, where errors occur, they are returned to the requesting country at the requesting country’s cost.
“Under the agreement, Nigeria and the United Kingdom will work together to secure the dignified return of their nationals who do not, or no longer, have the right to enter or remain in the territory of the other country.
“A clear condition in the MoU is that the returnees concerned are bona fide nationals of the country and are treated with dignity and respect, with due regard to their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“Law enforcement officers in each country will take the necessary action to protect the interests and well-being of citizens of either party and to mitigate conflict triggers related to migration matters.”
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, in July 2025, denounced the United States of America government over a deportation deal after claiming the Donald Trump administration approached Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan prisoners.
“In the words of the famous US rap group Public Enemy… You’ll remember a line from Flava Flav – a member of the group – who said: ‘Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can’t do nothin’ for you, man’, ” the minister said then.
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