The Nigerian Presidency has come out clarify on the “misinformation assailing” the Nigeria-UK migration partnership in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries on the sidelines of the “historic” State visit of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom (UK).
Via a State House Press Statement, the Presidency said, the Memoranda is targeted at bolstering the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK).
Also, the MoU creates a “framework” that will help “facilitate a regulated and safe migration flow between the two countries”, and, strengthen bilateral cooperation in the battle against “irregular migration and associated acts” by citizens of the two countries.
The State House Press Statement released on Saturday 21 March, 2026 and signed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, reads: “It has become necessary to debunk the raft of misinformation assailing the migration partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two nations on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historic state visit to the UK.
“The memorandum on immigration cooperation, like other memoranda signed, aimed to strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Interior and the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland signed the Migration MoU.
“The MoU establishes a framework to facilitate a regulated and safe migration flow between the two countries and 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.
“Nowhere in the 12-page memorandum is Nigeria required to accept foreign nationals other than Nigerians. Nationals to be repatriated must have undergone multiple levels of identification and verification, and, where errors occur, they are returned to the requesting country at the requesting country’s cost.
“Under the agreement, Nigeria and the United Kingdom will work together to secure the dignified return of their nationals who do not, or no longer, have the right to enter or remain in the territory of the other country.
“A clear condition in the MoU is that the returnees concerned are bona fide nationals of the country and are treated with dignity and respect, with due regard to their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“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.
“A key provision in the MoU is that the migrant to be returned must carry his legally acquired personal belongings to the country of destination, unlike in the past when migrants left with nothing.”
