The United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed to deepen cooperation on migration, justice and security, with a focus on tackling visa fraud, organised immigration crime, drug trafficking and cyber-enabled fraud, while improving legal migration pathways and border management.
The agreement followed the annual UK-Nigeria Migration, Justice and Home Affairs (MJHA) Dialogue held in London on October 6, where senior officials from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Home Office jointly chaired discussions on translating commitments made during President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to the UK in March 2026 into practical measures.
The discussions covered a range of areas, including document verification, border security, the return and reintegration of migrants, extradition, asset recovery and prisoner transfers, as both countries seek to strengthen law enforcement cooperation and protect legitimate travel between them.
The two countries also agreed to work together to address drug trafficking and crimes facilitated by digital technologies, reflecting the broadening scope of their bilateral security cooperation.
According to a statement by the British High Commission, the dialogue was designed to convert political commitments made during the State Visit into practical areas of cooperation that would benefit citizens of both countries.
The discussions also emphasised the need to support safe and dignified migrant returns and reintegration, alongside efforts to prevent the abuse of immigration systems.
It noted that Nigeria remains a significant source of travellers to the UK, receiving the third-highest volume of UK student visas globally and the fifth-highest volume of work visas. This level of movement has made cooperation on protecting legitimate travel, strengthening verification processes and holding those responsible for immigration-related offences accountable a key priority for both governments.
The UK and Nigeria also agreed to support the development of Nigerian visa pathways for businesses seeking to invest in Nigeria.
Vicky Seymour, British Deputy High Commissioner, said the partnership was producing practical results on issues of importance to both countries.
‘The UK-Nigeria partnership is delivering practical results on issues that matter to both our countries,’ Seymour said.
She said both governments were building on the momentum of Tinubu’s State Visit by implementing commitments aimed at tackling visa fraud and organised immigration crime, strengthening border security, and supporting safe and dignified return and reintegration.
‘Our goal is simple: protect legitimate travellers, tackle those who abuse our systems and make both our countries safer,’ she said.
On Nigeria’s part, Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said migration remained one of the most important and visible aspects of the bilateral relationship.
Ahmed said cooperation on migration should not be limited to enforcement but should also create meaningful opportunities for legal migration and establish credible pathways for legitimate migrants.
‘Migration remains one of the most important and visible aspects of the UK-Nigeria relationship.
‘This dialogue must both cover enforcement activities as well as ensuring meaningful opportunities for legal migration, and credible opportunities for pathways for legitimate migrants,’ he said.
He added that the dialogue was ultimately aimed at strengthening the security, prosperity and safety of both countries and their citizens.