Nigeria has agreed to take back more of its nationals from the United Kingdom (UK) under a new migration arrangement that is expected to fast-track the return of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers and convicted offenders.

The deal, signed in London by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit, introduces a key administrative change that could significantly increase removals.

At the centre of the agreement is Nigeria’s decision to recognise UK-issued identification letters for deportees who lack valid passports, a shift from its previous reliance on emergency travel documents. British authorities say the move eliminates a major bottleneck that has long delayed returns.

With that hurdle cleared, nearly 1,000 Nigerians who have exhausted asylum appeals and over 1,100 convicted offenders currently awaiting deportation could now be removed more quickly, according to figures cited in UK reports.

The agreement also gives the UK broader scope to return visa overstayers, underscoring what officials describe as “wide flexibility” in enforcement.

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While the timeline and financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, the arrangement echoes a previous — and ultimately abandoned — deportation pact between the UK and Rwanda, which had involved hundreds of millions of pounds before being scrapped by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “dead”.

It is still unclear whether the new Nigeria deal will apply strictly to Nigerian nationals or extend to other categories of migrants.

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Defending the agreement, Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s position reflects its obligations under international cooperation.

“We are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations,” he said. “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.”

UK officials framed the deal as part of a broader crackdown on immigration abuse. Border Security Minister Alex Norris described Nigeria as a critical partner, noting its status as Britain’s largest visa market in Africa.

“We owe everyone across the system fairness,” Norris said, adding that “anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed.”

Beyond deportations, both countries also agreed to deepen cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime. Plans include joint operations and intelligence sharing to disrupt networks linked to fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged documentation.

The partnership will extend into financial and cybercrime enforcement, targeting online scams ranging from romance fraud to cryptocurrency schemes. A new “fusion cell” will bring together government agencies, banks and technology firms to share intelligence in real time and respond more quickly to emerging threats.

Nigeria is also expected to review its legal framework on immigration offences, with authorities signalling tougher penalties as part of the broader enforcement push.