Over 840,000 foreign nationals are currently living in Nigeria beyond the validity of their visas, according to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. He revealed the figure, 840,290 to be exact, during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, attributing the precise count to Nigeria's recently upgraded immigration system. The minister described the number as nearly a million and emphasized that the individuals are citizens of various countries. The disclosure comes as Nigeria faces scrutiny over a new migration agreement with the United Kingdom, signed on March 19 through three Memoranda of Understanding on Migration Partnership. Tunji-Ojo defended the pact, stating it promotes regulated and safe migration while enhancing cooperation in combating irregular migration, human trafficking, and smuggling. He clarified that Nigeria is not accepting foreign prisoners or asylum seekers under the agreement. Instead, the MoU includes provisions for reciprocal treatment, particularly in the return of nationals. One key clause, Article 8, guarantees that Nigerians returned from the UK will be treated with dignity and respect for their human rights, including gender considerations. The minister stressed that past deportations often left returning citizens humiliated, arriving with only personal belongings. This agreement, he said, ensures such treatment will no longer be tolerated. The framework also aims to support Nigeria in managing its own overstayers through improved data sharing and bilateral coordination. The next step involves full implementation of the MoU, with both countries expected to establish operational mechanisms for return procedures and migration management.
When Tunji-Ojo cites 840,290 overstayers, he exposes a long-ignored flaw in Nigeria's border governance — the state has been blind to who stays, for how long, and under what conditions. The UK migration deal is not just about deportations; it forces Nigeria to confront its own lax immigration enforcement while leveraging international pressure to fix it. That Article 8 guarantees dignity for returning Nigerians suggests past returns were not just poorly managed but dehumanizing — a silent scandal now being formally acknowledged. This isn't merely a bilateral agreement; it's Nigeria's first real step toward modern immigration accountability.
