The United Kingdom and Nigeria have signed a three-year agreement aimed at strengthening laws on immigration offences and tackling visa fraud and organised migration crime.
The agreement was signed in London by Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of efforts to deepen cooperation on migration, justice, and border security.
Under the deal, both countries agreed to review and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure tougher penalties for immigration-related offences, particularly crimes involving forged documents and visa fraud.
The agreement also includes plans to expand the legal basis for prosecuting offenders, tighten the process for issuing travel and visa-related documents, and introduce improved verification systems.
Both countries will strengthen collaboration through the UK-Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit by signing additional agreements on operations and data sharing. This is expected to improve intelligence gathering and coordination in tackling cross-border immigration crimes.
As part of the arrangement, the UK will support Nigeria with training and capacity building for border security agencies, while both sides will work together to study migration patterns and improve enforcement strategies.
The deal also places emphasis on protecting vulnerable groups, especially women and children, and addressing issues related to trafficking and irregular migration.
Officials said the agreement builds on existing partnerships between both countries and is part of broader efforts to curb illegal migration, improve border control, and enhance bilateral relations.
