The United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed on new measures to strengthen cooperation on migration management, justice and security, building on commitments made during President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to the UK in March 2026.

The agreement was reached at the annual UK-Nigeria Migration, Justice and Home Affairs (MJHA) Dialogue, jointly chaired by senior officials of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Home Office in London on October 6.

The dialogue focused on translating commitments made during the State Visit into practical areas of cooperation to protect legitimate travellers, combat transnational crime and strengthen security in both countries.

Key areas identified for collaboration include tackling organised immigration crime and visa fraud, improving document verification and border management, supporting safe and dignified return and reintegration, and strengthening cooperation on extradition, asset recovery, prisoner transfer, cyber-enabled fraud and drug trafficking.

The two countries also agreed to support the development of Nigerian visa pathways for businesses seeking to invest in Nigeria, in fulfilment of another commitment made during Tinubu’s State Visit.

The agreement comes against the backdrop of significant migration and educational ties between the two countries. Nigeria accounts for the third-highest volume of UK student visas globally and the fifth-highest volume of work visas, making cooperation to protect legitimate travel and prevent abuse of immigration systems a priority for both governments.

Speaking after the dialogue, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Vicky Seymour, said the partnership was producing practical outcomes on issues of shared interest.

“The UK-Nigeria partnership is delivering practical results on issues that matter to both our countries,” Seymour said.

She explained that the two governments were building on the momentum of the President’s State Visit by converting political commitments into concrete actions that would benefit citizens in both countries.

According to her, the cooperation would address visa fraud and organised immigration crime, strengthen border security, and support safe and dignified return and reintegration.

“Our goal is simple: protect legitimate travellers, tackle those who abuse our systems and make both our countries safer,” she said.

For Nigeria, the dialogue also underscored the need to balance immigration enforcement with opportunities for legitimate migration, particularly through transparent and credible legal pathways.

Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dunoma Umar Ahmed, said migration remained a critical component of bilateral relations, requiring both countries to address security concerns while expanding lawful opportunities for their citizens.

“Migration remains one of the most important and visible aspects of the UK-Nigeria relationship,” Ahmed said.

He stressed that discussions should extend beyond enforcement to include meaningful opportunities for legal migration and credible pathways for legitimate migrants.

“The MJHA Dialogue is ultimately about strengthening the security, prosperity, and safety of our nations and citizens,” he added.

The agreement signals a broader effort by both governments to deepen cooperation on the cross-border challenges associated with migration, financial crime and illicit trafficking, while preserving legitimate movement for education, employment and business.

For Nigeria, the proposed support for business-related visa pathways could also help facilitate investment and commercial engagement, particularly as the government seeks to attract capital and strengthen international economic partnerships.

The emphasis on document verification, border management and visa fraud is expected to support efforts to distinguish legitimate travellers from those seeking to exploit immigration systems. Meanwhile, cooperation on extradition, asset recovery and prisoner transfers could strengthen the countries’ capacity to pursue criminal cases with cross-border dimensions.

Both governments committed to jointly monitoring progress towards implementing the agreed measures, with Nigeria scheduled to host the next annual Migration, Justice and Home Affairs Dialogue in 2027.

The next meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to assess progress on the commitments and identify further areas for cooperation.