Nigeria, UK sign £746m ports deal, MoU on migration

Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Migration Partnership, a Statement of Intent on Cooperation on Organised Immigration Crime and Border Security and a Statement of Intent on the Expansion of Business Visas for UK companies working with Nigeria. Nigerian criminals, failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders will now […]

Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Migration Partnership, a Statement of Intent on Cooperation on Organised Immigration Crime and Border Security and a Statement of Intent on the Expansion of Business Visas for UK companies working with Nigeria.

Nigerian criminals, failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders will now be booted out of the UK more regularly, ministers have declared.

The UK struck a new deal with Nigeria on Thursday, slashing red tape on planned removals.

Abuja has finally agreed to recognise UK Letters – an identity document used by the Home Office if a foreign national has lost, destroyed or does not hold a valid passport.

This means hundreds of Nigerians eligible for deportation will not have to wait for emergency travel documents issued by their own Government.

And the Nigerian government has vowed to “review” its efforts to tackle immigration crime. This follows fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial or employment records.

The Home Office announced it had signed an agreement with officials during this week’s state visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris, said, “Anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed.

“Today’s agreement is another step in our mission to restore order to the border by ensuring those who have no right to be here are swiftly removed.

“Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK’s largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here. We owe everyone across the system fairness.”

Around 1,150 Nigerians are removed every year, the Home Office said.

Home Office records show almost 3,000 people from the West African country are living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, including 516 in asylum hotels.

The number seeking refuge in the UK has soared from 1,149 in 2010 to 2,904 in 2025.

The vast majority arrived on visas, including work, study and visitor permits, before switching and claiming asylum.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, signed two of the MoUs on Wednesday evening and the third on Thursday, while representing the Federal Government of Nigeria in the UK.

Tunji-Ojo said that the agreement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to a migration framework that is transparent and respectful of national interests and international obligations.

“This partnership is a testament to our shared determination to build a migration system that is safe, orderly, and mutually beneficial.

“We are not here to be diplomatic but to integrate and tell you that in the next year, all we want to be able to do is to reveal how far we have gone in being successful.

“And hopefully, this will be a template for other bilateral understandings,” he was quoted as saying in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Babatunde Alao.

Tunji-Ojo reiterated that Nigeria remained steadfast in its duty to protect citizens while ensuring that those who abuse legal pathways or engage in criminality are held accountable.

While signing on the expansion of business visas for UK companies, Tunji-Ojo said that following the bold reforms of President Tinubu, the use of visa serves as a catalyst for socio-economic development in Nigeria.

“Regarding the visa agreement, I can tell you that I am very happy with this, because for us, this is what we have been looking forward to,” he said.

He emphasised that in building a trillion-dollar economy, Nigeria must cut trade barriers, such as those related to irregular migration.

“I want to assure you on behalf of Mr President and the great people of Nigeria, that we are open to endless possibilities of growth and socio-economic development.

“So be assured that we will be true to this, we will swing into action and ensure all barriers are removed,” Tunji-Ojo said.

According to the UK Home Secretary, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood, Nigeria will always be categorised as number one in successful bilateral relations.

“We are obviously always having bilateral discussions with other countries; however, you will always be number one because you are the first to have gotten such an extensive agreement, and we really do appreciate it.

“I think we both understand one another, and I think we have a shared vision here for the work that our countries can do together, and I really do appreciate it,” the home secretary said.

During the signing of the third MoU, UK Trade Envoy Florence Eshalomi stated that the agreement on expansion of business visas for UK companies has clear benefits for both countries.

Eshalomi attributed the heightened partnership as a bold step vital for Nigeria’s economic growth, one of Africa’s largest and thriving economies.

 

£746m ports deal sealed

Meanwhile, thousands of skilled UK and Nigerian jobs are to be supported and hundreds of millions invested into the economy as a historic financing deal was signed yesterday between the UK and Nigeria.

The £746 million sum will be used to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s major national maritime infrastructure facilities located in Lagos, the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the TinCan Island Port Complex.

It will be delivered through UKEF’s Buyer Credit Facility, coordinated and arranged by Citibank, N.A London Branch (“Citi”). Island Port Complex.

The agreement between UK Export Finance, the UK government’s export credit agency (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance will deliver significant benefits for British businesses, with at least £236 million of supplier contracts directed to British companies.

British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel billets to construction companies Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria for the ports deal, amounting to a £70 million contract that represents British Steel’s largest export order backed by UKEF.

It follows from the government’s newly announced steel strategy, which seeks to revitalise the steel sector.

Peter Kyle, Business and Trade Secretary, said, “Hot on the heels of our landmark Steel Strategy, this is a major win for British Steel made possible by UK Export Finance, which is a testament to the quality of UK-made steel and the booming UK-Nigeria relationship.

“Through our new Strategy, we’re backing British steelmakers for long-term success at home and abroad, and this contract will reinforce British Steel’s world-class expertise while supporting jobs and growth in Scunthorpe.”

Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigerian Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, said the modernisation and upgrading of Nigeria’s ports represents a major step forward for the country and aligns closely with the Federal Government’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of the marine and blue economy.

“Through strategic partnerships such as this with the United Kingdom, we are laying the foundation for a new era of efficiency, transparency and competitiveness in Nigeria’s port system.

“Modern infrastructure, supported by digitalised and automated processes, will transform the way our ports operate and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

“Nigeria’s port operations will be transformative. Turnaround times for vessels and cargo dwell times within the ports are projected to fall sharply as automated processes replace paperwork-heavy procedures and as expanded capacity removes longstanding bottlenecks.

“The modernised infrastructure will enable faster clearance of imports and exports, reduce demurrage and logistics costs for businesses, significantly improve the predictability and transparency of cargo movement and generate more revenue for national development,” he said.

Alongside the NPA deal announcement, the UK and Nigeria will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for potential future collaboration.

The MOU sets out Nigeria’s priority project pipeline, seeking UKEF finance and support, with the UK set to benefit directly through substantial supply chain participation.

The signing signals a clear commitment from both governments to deepen their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth.

Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria have been at the forefront of some of Nigeria’s most transformative infrastructure projects and advanced engineering.

The Steel Strategy highlights one of many initiatives that the government is already doing, including those on energy prices, skills, procurement and financing support of projects such as the Scrap Metal Taskforce and the new Trade Defence Measures.

Tim Reid, CEO at UK Export Finance, said, “This deal represents a milestone for UK-Nigeria trade relations and demonstrates the full capacity of UK Export Finance to unlock transformational opportunities for British businesses, while supporting sustainable economic growth in key markets.

“With over £200 million feeding back to British companies, including one of the largest steel billet contracts in British Steel’s history and our new Memorandum of Understanding, UKEF are laying the foundations for a deeper, long-term relationship with Nigeria, that will open doors for British exporters across the entire region.”