The Home Secretary has struck a major new agreement with
Nigeria, which will see both countries work together to
tackle shared migration issues.
The deal will see the countries do more together to support legal
migration, tackle illegal migration and speed up
the removal of foreign criminals. The commitment is already
delivering as 13 Nigerian foreign nationals with no right to be
in the UK were removed today (Thursday 30 June) on a chartered
flight.
After the flight departed Nigeria it flew to Ghana where eight
Ghanaian foreign nationals with no right to be in the UK were
returned.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Nigeria will
also promote our shared bilateral economic interests. The deal
delivers on the British people’s priority of controlling our
borders and ensuring the immigration system is fair but
firm.
Home Secretary said:
“It is an important development that the UK and Nigeria have
signed an agreement to co-operate on migration issues, to tackle
illegal migration and the significant threat it poses to both
nations.
“The deal will mean that operational teams in both countries will
share their expertise to take the fight to criminal people
smugglers who are responsible for a wider range of criminality
and put profit before people while undermining the security of
our two countries. This landmark agreement will increase the
deportation of dangerous foreign criminals to make our streets
and country safer.
“This is our New Plan for Immigration being put into action.”
The Home Secretary and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK,
Sarafa Tunji Isola, are meeting today to discuss the countries’
shared interests and growing collaboration.
Last year the Home Secretary travelled
to Ghana for a two-day visit to deepen the UK-Ghana’s
security partnership. Whilst there, unveiled the Home Office-funded
Ghana Immigration Taskforce Office which works to tackle
organised immigration crime. Today’s flight to Ghana shows the
partnership in action; delivering for the British public.
The UK-Nigerian MoU will:
- Promote the economic activities of citizens in both
countries
- Develop better working relationships and expertise on
tackling illegal migration
- Speed up the removal of FNOs from the UK to Nigeria and vice
versa. Through the agreement, emergency travel certificates or
temporary passports will be issued to individuals being returned
within five working days of receipt of their passport or
biometric details
- See the countries work together to support those who choose
to come to each country legally and safely
Today’s returns flight removed:
- 8 foreign national offenders to Nigeria
- 5 immigration offenders to Nigeria
- 3 foreign national offenders to Ghana
- 5 immigration offenders to Ghana
The foreign national offenders have combined prison sentences of
more than 64 years.
The MoU follows a joint communique signed in February between the
UK and Nigeria which strengthened their security and defence
partnership and returns deals signed with Serbia and
Albania. Last year the UK and India signed a ground-breaking
partnership migration deal which accelerates the removal of
illegal migrants.
The recently-enacted Nationality and Borders Act will also deter
illegal entry into the UK, breaking the business model of
people-smuggling networks, and speed up the removal of those with
no right to be in the UK.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- This deal is separate and different to the Migration and
Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda which will relocate
those travelling to the UK through illegal, dangerous and
unnecessary methods considered for relocation to Rwanda, where
they will have their asylum claim processed.
- In May 2021, the UK government signed a landmark migration
agreement with India to support people coming to the UK through
legal routes, while strengthening the removal of those with no
right to be in the UK.
- Since January 2019 the UK has removed 10,741 foreign national
offenders, delivering on the government’s promise to tackle
illegal immigration and the harm it causes.
