Nigeria, UK Sign Fresh Agreements on Deportations, Crime, Justice Cooperation
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a series of new agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in migration management, criminal justice, and the fight against financial crimes.
The accords were reached during the 2025 Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue, held in Abuja on Wednesday, and were formalized in a joint communiqué signed by Ambassador Asari Allotey on behalf of Nigeria and Ambassador Asim Hafeez for the United Kingdom.
The communiqué was released to journalists on Friday.
According to the statement, a central outcome of the meeting was a renewed commitment by both nations to facilitate the return of individuals residing illegally in each other’s territories.
The agreement is expected to streamline deportation processes, improve information sharing, and ensure humane and lawful repatriation procedures.
Beyond deportations, the new framework also covers cooperation on visa processing, extradition protocols, and joint efforts to tackle transnational organized crime, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
Ambassador Allotey noted that the agreements reflect Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen law enforcement collaboration with the UK while ensuring that the rights of deportees and migrants are respected.
“Nigeria remains committed to upholding international standards on migration while ensuring that its citizens are treated with dignity wherever they reside,” she said.
Her British counterpart, Ambassador Hafeez, described the dialogue as a “significant milestone” in UK-Nigeria relations, stressing that both countries share common goals in promoting security, lawful migration, and economic development.
“These agreements reaffirm our shared determination to combat financial crime, enhance border management, and make migration work better for both our nations,” Hafeez stated.
The communiqué also highlighted plans to deepen judicial cooperation, particularly in evidence sharing, extradition of fugitives, and recovery of illicit financial assets linked to corruption and organized crime.
The 2025 dialogue builds on previous rounds of bilateral talks held in London and Abuja over the past decade, reinforcing both nations’ long-standing partnership in areas of governance, justice reform, and migration policy.
