Dare Babalola
The Nigerian government has moved to address widespread misconceptions surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the United Kingdom on migration cooperation, saying the agreement is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and facilitating safe migration flows between the two countries.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, said the MoU establishes a framework for regulated migration and cooperation in combating irregular migration.
The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Interior and the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historic state visit to the UK.
According to Onanuga, the memorandum on immigration cooperation is designed to encourage further bilateral cooperation in the fight against irregular migration and associated acts by citizens of each country, in accordance with their respective immigration and citizenship laws and extant international treaties, conventions, protocols, agreements, and charters.
Onanuga added that the agreement outlines clear conditions for the return of nationals, including multiple levels of identification and verification.
He said returnees must be bona fide nationals, and errors in identification will result in return to the requesting country at their cost.
“Where errors occur, they are returned to the requesting country at the requesting country’s cost,” the statement emphasised.
The MoU ensures returnees can carry their legally acquired belongings and have access to reintegration assistance, including airport reception, accommodation, and support for finding employment or starting a business. Article 12 of the agreement further reinforces this provision, stating that “Every returnee will be given ample opportunity to make adequate arrangements for the transfer or disposal of his property in the territory of the requesting party, under the supervision of the mission of the requested party”.
The Nigerian government retains sole responsibility for issuing documentation, including digital acknowledgement of receipt, with the UK playing no role in this process. Article 9, subsection 3 of the MoU states that
“It shall be the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to issue and handle, as is necessary under Nigerian domestic legislation, any Nigerian documentation (including the digital acknowledgement of receipt of a UK Letter) ahead of the notified date of return as stated in the UK Letter,” he noted.
The agreement provides for appeal processes, allowing returnees to contest their deportation on grounds such as long-term residency or integration into the requesting country.
The appeal may relate to circumstances in which the foreign nationals have been lawfully resident in the territory of the requesting party for most of their lives and socially and culturally integrated in the territory of the requesting party.
Article 9 of the MoU outlines the conditions for return, including identification checks and coordination between authorities. The requesting party will coordinate all returns with the officers of the requested party, and a return may be conducted by means of a scheduled aircraft or an aircraft chartered specifically for this purpose by the authorities of the parties.
The agreement is renewable for a further five-year period, with provisions for reintegration support. Article 11 deals with returnee reintegration assistance, stating that every returnee will be able to access basic on-arrival and reintegration assistance in the territory of the requested party.
Onanuga urged media organisations to seek clarification on issues to avoid misinforming the public, saying the agreement is a standard arrangement between nations.
“We reiterate that media organisations should seek clarification when uncertain about any issue to avoid misinforming the public,” he said.
The MoU is similar to agreements signed in 2012, 2017, and 2022, and is aimed at promoting cooperation and managing migration flows between Nigeria and the UK.
The presidential spokesman said the agreement has been welcomed by many as a positive step towards addressing migration challenges, but some critics have raised concerns about its implications.
The Nigerian government stressed that the agreement is designed to protect the rights and dignity of returnees, and to promote cooperation between the two countries. The agreement is expected to come into effect in the coming weeks, with both countries working to implement its provisions.
The government also noted that law enforcement officers in each country will take the necessary action to protect the interests and well-being of citizens of either party and to mitigate conflict triggers related to migration matters.
