The United Kingdom and Nigeria have signed a three-year strategic agreement aimed at increasing jail terms for immigration-related offences and strengthening efforts to combat visa fraud and organised migration crime.
The joint statement, signed on March 18, 2026, in London by UK Home Secretary Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, builds on the 2024 UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership. It underscores both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation on migration, justice, and home affairs.
The agreement outlines several measures designed to tighten laws and enforcement mechanisms for immigration-related crimes:
- Harsher Penalties: Jail terms for individuals convicted of immigration offences will be increased in Nigeria, especially for crimes involving false documentation, following a legal review.
- Expanded Legal Framework: Prosecutors will have broader authority to charge offenders involved in immigration and border-related crimes.
- Stronger Verification: Processes for issuing travel documents and supporting visa applications will be tightened through verification technologies and assurance measures.
- Joint Organised Crime Efforts: The UK-Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit will be strengthened via four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering operational engagement and data sharing.
- Border Security Enhancement: The UK will provide training and technical support to relevant Nigerian agencies to improve border security and enforcement capacity.
- Protection of Vulnerable Migrants: Both countries will collaborate on safeguarding women and children in migration, addressing issues such as surrogacy regulation, and protecting minors during migration.
Under the agreement, the joint UK-Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit will be operationalised immediately, with signed cooperation agreements and enhanced data-sharing mechanisms.
A standardised verification system will be developed to accelerate document checks for visa applications, while intelligence on irregular migration patterns will be improved through shared research. Vetted officers from the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission will continue to be deployed to the joint unit.
This agreement builds on a May 2025 joint fraud action plan, which strengthened collaboration in detecting, disrupting, and preventing cross-border financial crimes, focusing on intelligence sharing and joint enforcement operations.
The UK and Nigeria have a long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship. Bilateral trade has grown steadily to £8 billion annually, supported by the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, which promotes collaboration in finance, technology, and digital services.
Nigeria remains a key destination for UK investment. In Q3 2025, Nigeria recorded about $6.01 billion in capital importation, with the UK accounting for nearly half, US$2.94 billion, primarily in portfolio investments in the financial and banking sectors.
The new agreement signals a more coordinated approach to tackling irregular migration and visa fraud, which have long challenged both countries. For Nigeria, it strengthens legal and operational capacity to prosecute offenders and enhance border security. For the UK, it supports faster deportation of failed asylum seekers and better safeguards against fraudulent migration.
Experts say that successful implementation will require consistent monitoring, institutional capacity building, and continuous intelligence sharing. As migration pressures evolve, both countries will need to ensure that enforcement is balanced with protection for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
