The Irish government is proposing a European Union (EU)-Nigeria migration agreement, which would make it easier for both parties to return and readmit nationals who have no legal right to remain in each other’s territories.

Due to Ireland’s special status under Protocol 21, the country is not automatically bound by EU measures and must formally opt in to any of such agreement. The upper house of the Irish parliament, Seanad, has since moved to exercise Protocol 21 for Ireland to join the readmission agreement.

Speaking at the lower house of the national parliament of Ireland, Minister of State Colm Burke said that Nigeria ranks among the top five nations with most asylum seekers in Ireland, noting that the proposed EU-Nigeria agreement would allow safer repatriation of Nigerians living illegally in Ireland. 

Mr Burke noted that Nigeria and Ireland first signed a formal return and readmission agreement in 2001, noting that the deal was never ratified by the Nigerian government. However, he acknowledged that Nigeria had consistently supported Ireland’s efforts to return undocumented Nigerians to the country.

“Today, Nigeria is in the top five countries whose nationals apply for asylum in Ireland. Ireland and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have a strong history of good cooperation on returns and readmission. In 2001, we signed a bilateral agreement to establish the formal framework for readmission and in relation to immigration matters.

“While this was not officially ratified by Nigeria, the Nigerian authorities have demonstrated good cooperation and the readmission of its citizens. Nigeria remains a priority country for Ireland in relation to migration cooperation and this readmission agreement would support Ireland’s efforts in driving improved and sustained cooperation,” the minister said. 

Mr Burke stated that the agreement would remain in force for five years, subject to renewal, and would streamline the process of deporting Nigerian and EU nationals from each other’s territories.

“The aim of this agreement is to improve rapid and effective procedures for return and readmission of Nigerian nationals from EU member states and EU nationals from Nigeria, who no longer have legal rights to enter, stay or reside in other parties’ territories,” he added. 

The EU-Nigeria agreement sets out clear legal obligations on the parties to accept the return of their own nationals as well as timelines for the issuance of travel documents and biometric temporary passports. It also highlights how nationality should be established and the mode of transfers.

Recall that the Peoples Gazette reported in August that the Irish government deported six unnamed Nigerians with a total of 35 criminal convictions from Ireland to Nigeria in a joint operation by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.