Wednesday, August 12, 2026

UK to deport foreign criminals to Nigeria in deal Tinubu signed with Starmer

UK visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be deported to Nigeria under a new agreement Mr Starmer struck with the Nigerian president.

• March 20, 2026
Tinubu with Starmer
Tinubu with Starmer

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu signed an agreement with the UK allowing the British government to deport “foreign” criminals to Nigeria.

The UK Home Office announced the landmark deal on Thursday, stating Nigeria’s partnership to help decongest the UK and rid the British territory of illegal immigrants, including those without a valid passport.

“Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under a new agreement struck this week during the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu,” the UK Home Office announced in a statement.

For the first time in history, illegal UK immigrants without a passport will be assigned “UK letters” as the alternative travel identification document to fast-track their deportation to Nigeria.

The Home Office said UK letters “will be recognised by the Nigerian government for the first time”.

Foreign affairs minister Yusuf Tuggar denounced the U.S. government over a deportation deal in July 2025 after claiming the Donald Trump administration approached Nigeria to accept 300 Venezuelan prisoners.

Mr Tuggar went as far as quoting the lyrics of a defunct U.S. rap group to buttress his opinion that Nigeria had enough problems of its own and could not accommodate foreign prisoners.

“In the words of the famous US rap group Public Enemy… You’ll remember a line from Flava Flav – a member of the group – who said: ‘Flava Flav has problems of his own. I can’t do nothin’ for you, man’, ” the minister said.

His remarks came amid diplomatic tensions after the U.S. Department of State reduced five-year multiple-entry visas for Nigerian non-immigrants to single-entry visas valid for three months, a move Mr Tuggar suggested was linked to Nigeria’s refusal of the request.

Nigerians continue to endure an active U.S. ban that restricts visa processing for students and tourists seeking to travel to America for academic or tourism purposes, including football fans who wish to watch the World Cup later this year.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Scales of justice

States

Woman drags ex-husband to court over alleged N200,000 debt, monthly maintenance 

The judge, Yakubu Abdullahi, adjourned the case to September 2 for the complainant to produce her witnesses and present evidence of school fees payment.

Armed Policemen

States

Four suspects arrested in Osun for alleged attempted murder, firearm possession

Mr Ojelabi encouraged residents to continue to provide credible and timely information to the police to curb crime.

LASU Vice-Chancellor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello

States

Dangote, others to receive honorary doctorates at LASU convocation

The vice-chancellor said that the university would also elevate two academics, Rafiu Okuneye and herself, to the rank of distinguished professor.

Showbiz

Singer Niniola returns with new single “O Du Mi” after husband’s death

Ahead of one of her performances, Niniola said returning to music remained emotionally challenging.

Olatunji Disu

States

IG bars Amotekun from Osun poll, deploys DIG Mohammed to coordinate security operation

Mr Disu said the deployment was part of operational measures of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure a peaceful, secure, and credible electoral process in Osun State.