The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has denied reports suggesting that the recent migration agreement signed by Nigeria and the United Kingdom would allow the transfer of foreign criminals to Nigeria.
The agreement was signed during President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the UK. It is one of three key accords aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration management, border security, and economic development.
Following the announcement, the deal attracted criticism from some Nigerians, with claims that it could enable the UK to transfer criminals seeking asylum in the country to Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo clarified that the agreement concerns only Nigerians who are out of status in the UK.
“Article 7 of the agreement says, ‘the parties will work together to secure the dignified return of their nationals who do not or who no longer have the right to enter or remain in that country.’ I have seen some things in the media where some people are saying that they want to go and bring prisoners from all over the world and dump in Nigeria.
“This government is not going to tolerate something like that. There is no way this government, under this president, will sign that sort of agreement; it’s never going to be done. What this agreement talks about are Nigerians who are overstayers or who are out of status in the United Kingdom,” Tunji-Ojo said.
