Nigeria signs EU readmission deal for undocumented Nigerians, 27k+ irregular arrivals since 2017
Nigeria and the EU signed a readmission agreement Wednesday, November 12, formalizing the return of Nigerians with no legal grounds to stay in EU member states. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner signed the pact after nearly a decade of negotiations.
The agreement covers reciprocal obligations for safety, dignity, and human rights during readmission processes. IOM data shows 27,234 irregular Nigerian arrivals in Europe between 2017 and March 2024, while 260,000 Nigerians legally reside in the bloc.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo identified three categories subject to readmission: those with valid travel documents, those who lost or destroyed documents after entry, and those who traveled without identification. The government is modernizing border management systems and integrating national identity databases to verify nationality faster during returns.
Beyond returns, both sides say the deal could unlock cooperation on legal migration pathways, vocational training, police cooperation, and combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
If you're in Europe without papers—or planning to migrate—this agreement makes legal pathways more critical than ever. Are you exploring regular migration options or waiting to see how enforcement plays out?