No fewer than 4,000 Nigerians have voluntarily departed India, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, has disclosed.
This follows the amnesty offered by the Indian government to illegal residents.
Muhammad made the disclosure during an interactive session with diplomatic correspondents in New Delhi covering the 2026 BRICS Summit.
The Nigerian High Commissioner urged Nigerians to obey Indian laws, uphold Nigeria’s image and pursue legitimate activities.
Some Nigerians were said to have run afoul of visa offences, including overstays, renewal and extension issues, student welfare, and medical-related issues.
Muhammad said more than 4,000 Nigerians had taken advantage of the arrangement to leave India voluntarily, adding that Nigeria has requested a further extension of between three and six months to enable more citizens to regularise their status.
He commended the Indian government for granting an amnesty programme allowing Nigerians residing in the country illegally to regularise their status or leave without penalties.
According to him, the initial six-month amnesty was extended by an additional three months following his appointment.
The High Commissioner noted that he subsequently engaged officials of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, particularly those responsible for Central and West Africa, to discuss matters affecting Nigerians living in India.
He said he has highlighted progress in his first month in office, including engagement with the Nigerian diaspora, discussions with Indian authorities on immigration issues, and efforts to deepen economic relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Muhammad said he recently visited correctional facilities across India and met directly with 198 Nigerian citizens in detention as part of efforts to strengthen what he described as Nigeria’s citizen-centred diplomacy.
He said the visits aimed to understand the welfare and concerns of Nigerians incarcerated in India.
According to the envoy, he visited several correctional centres, including facilities housing 16, more than 70, and over 50 Nigerian inmates, as well as 19 women and girls in detention. In total, the mission interacted directly with 198 Nigerians over three days.
‘This is to show that our government is concerned about its citizens. We call it citizen-centred diplomacy,’ Muhammad said.
He explained that during the visits, detainees raised concerns ranging from alleged maltreatment and racial discrimination to limited access to legal representation, delays in court proceedings and inadequate medical attention.
The High Commissioner said he immediately engaged with prison authorities on the issues raised and found that many challenges stemmed from prolonged investigations and delays in the judicial process rather than from the conduct of prison officials.
‘We realised that prison officials were generally cooperative, but many detainees are awaiting trial and the judicial process takes time,’ he said.
Muhammad stressed that the mission had sought to bridge communication gaps by engaging relevant authorities and advocating for the rights of Nigerian citizens.
He emphasised that, regardless of the allegations against detainees, their fundamental human rights must be respected.
‘Universal principles require that all human beings be treated fairly. Their fundamental rights must not be abused, distorted or violated in any way, and their welfare must be taken care of,’ he stated.
The envoy said the mission submitted a detailed report to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlining the concerns raised during the visits and recommending actions to address them.
According to him, the report received prompt attention from Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who expressed appreciation for the mission’s efforts and pledged to elevate the issues to the highest levels of government.
Muhammad said the initiative reflects Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that citizens abroad remain connected to their country, even when facing legal challenges.
‘Nigeria remembers them. That is why we are going there,’ he said.
‘We have told them that this mission is open to them. They can come here with their concerns and activities. We use those opportunities to advise them, caution them where necessary and address legitimate complaints,’ he said.
He said the mission lacks the resources to establish consular offices across the country but remains committed to reaching Nigerians wherever they reside.
‘We should have the capacity to go out and reach our people, so they know that we are here for them,’ he said.
He added that, despite resource limitations, the mission remains focused on serving Nigerians in India and on strengthening bilateral relations through people-to-people engagement.
The envoy, who arrived in India on 23 July, reaffirmed his commitment to promoting stronger Nigeria-India relations, advancing economic diplomacy and addressing issues affecting Nigerians resident in India.