After 10 Years Of Talks, Nigeria, EU Seal Deal on Returning Illegal Migrants

Nigeria and the European Union have finalised a readmission agreement to facilitate the return of Nigerians without legal grounds to remain in EU member states, bringing to a close negotiations that lasted nearly a decade.

The agreement was finalised on November 10 during a meeting between the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, at the Ministry of Interior. It is expected to be formally signed by both parties.

Tunji-Ojo described the agreement as an important step towards strengthening bilateral relations and improving migration management, assuring the EU delegation that Nigeria would honour its provisions.

He said the agreement would promote an orderly and dignified migration system, stressing that Nigeria did not encourage irregular migration or the abuse of international trust.

The minister said the government was modernising its migration and border management systems through automation and the integration of identity databases to facilitate the verification of Nigerians being returned.

He disclosed that more than 17 million migration records had been migrated into an integrated system, adding that similar arrangements were being implemented with the United Kingdom, while discussions were ongoing with the United States.

Brunner described the agreement as a significant development in Nigeria-EU relations and expressed the bloc’s readiness to deepen cooperation on border security, police collaboration, human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

He disclosed that approximately 260,000 Nigerians were legally resident in the European Union, emphasising the need to expand opportunities for safe and regular migration.

A member of the EU delegation, Johannes Lucher, said negotiations had been difficult because Nigeria sought to incorporate other areas, including anti-trafficking measures, anti-drug trafficking and legal migration pathways.

He said discussions on those issues would commence following the conclusion of the readmission agreement.

Lucher also disclosed that the EU had made almost €100 million in additional funding available to support broader cooperation, with discussions expected to begin with Nigerian migration and security officials.