The presidency has said that Nigeria is not required to accept foreign nationals following misconceptions on the new immigration agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu\u2019s state visit to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement on Saturday, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, debunked what he describes as \u201cthe raft of misinformation\u201d about the agreement, including the claim that irregular migrants in the UK from other countries could be deported to Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNowhere in the 12-page memorandum is Nigeria required to accept foreign nationals other than Nigerians,\u201d the presidential spokesman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Onanuga, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on immigration cooperation \u201caimed to strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tinubu\u2019s media aide stated that the MoU signed by Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Interior and the UK Secretary of State for the Home Department, establishes a framework \u201cto 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that under the agreement, \u201cNationals 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\u2019s cost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UK, Onanuga maintained, will ensure \u201cthe 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,\u201d and stressed that the returnees will be treated with \u201cdignity and respect, with due regard to their human rights and fundamental freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The presidential spokesman also outlined key provisions of the MoU, including that migrants returning to their home country \u201cmust carry their legally acquired personal belongings,\u201d and that \u201cevery returnee will be given ample opportunity to make adequate arrangements for the transfer or disposal of his property in the territory of the requesting party, under the supervision of the mission of the requested party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onanuga\u2019s remarks come a day after another presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, said the agreement with the UK government relates only to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It explained that the Nigerian government was not accepting foreigners, as the UK was not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor clarity, it is important to state that the agreement signed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the government of Nigeria, and Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, on behalf of the UK government, only relates to Nigerians who do not have legal status to live and remain in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Nigerian government is not taking back non-Nigerians. The UK government is not compelling Nigeria to take those who are not our citizens. This clarification becomes necessary because of those who have already revved up their misinformation machinery,\u201d a statement signed by a presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, partly read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It further noted that the agreement guarantees that returnees who are citizens of Nigeria would be treated with dignity, rights retention under domestic law, and may re-enter in the future if they meet the applicable immigration requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quoting a social media post by the Ministry of Interior, the statement added, \u201cIt also provides detailed arrangements for the dignified return and reintegration of NIGERIANS who do not have the legal right to remain in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis arrangement includes the use of secured travel documentation, case-by-case identity verification, and safeguards for vulnerable individuals and potential victims of trafficking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis framework also sets out clear definitions, scope, and areas of cooperation, including information sharing, capacity building, training, and joint research on migration management and border security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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