Britain increases holding facilities to accelerate removals of migrants

The United Kingdom government has unveiled plans to boost detention capacity, enabling the swift and secure removal of foreign offenders and illegal migrants from the country.

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This move aims to bolster enforcement efforts and expedite the deportation of individuals lacking legal status in the UK, as announced by the UK Home Office on its official X handle on Sunday.

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The Home Office stated, “We’re increasing detention capacity to ensure foreign offenders and illegal migrants can be securely held and removed from the UK faster,” in a post that outlined the expansion of detention capacity.

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This development comes on the heels of a bilateral agreement signed between Nigeria and the UK during President Bola Tinubu’s recent two-day state visit to Britain.

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The pact, formalized by Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, facilitates the quicker repatriation of failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted Nigerian offenders from the UK.

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Under the terms of the deal, Nigeria will recognize UK-issued letters as valid identification for deportees, effectively removing a significant bureaucratic obstacle.

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According to UK data, approximately 961 Nigerians have exhausted all asylum appeal rights, while an additional 1,110 Nigerian foreign national offenders are currently awaiting deportation.

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The agreement is expected to accelerate the return of over 2,000 Nigerians who lack legal right to remain in Britain, among others.

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Critics on social media have expressed skepticism, warning that the agreement could lead to mass deportations of Nigerians.

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Reacting to these concerns, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity clarified on Friday that only undocumented Nigerians are affected by the agreement.

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Ajayi explained, “For clarity, it is important to state that the agreement signed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the state visit of President Tinubu on behalf of the government of Nigeria, and Home Secretary Rt Hon 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.”

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Ajayi further added that Nigeria would not be receiving non-Nigerian nationals under the arrangement, and that the UK was not compelling Nigeria to accept individuals who were not its citizens.