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The Nigerian government has stated that all returnees under the Nigeria-UK migration partnership will have their personal property protected during the repatriation process.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made this known in a statement on Saturday.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, establishes a framework for safe and regulated migration flows while ensuring that returnees are treated with dignity and respect.
Onanuga also noted the agreement does not require Nigeria to accept foreign nationals other than Nigerians and guarantees that returnees are bona fide nationals.
Under the MoU, returnees can carry their legally acquired personal belongings, a change from past practices where property was sometimes left behind or confiscated.
The arrangement ensures that returnees can make necessary arrangements for their property before leaving the requesting country, with oversight from the relevant missions.
“A key provision in the MoU is that the migrant to be returned must carry his legally acquired personal belongings to the country of destination, unlike in the past when migrants left with nothing,” Onanuga said.
“Article 12 further reinforces this good deal: “Every returnee will be given ample opportunity to make adequate arrangements for the transfer or disposal of his property in the territory of the requesting party, under the supervision of the mission of the requested party.”
“Another provision is that where a return is being considered, and the person has made a claim under relevant domestic or international human rights legislation, that claim will be considered in line with the provisions under the party’s respective domestic legislation.
“The appeal may relate to circumstances in which the foreign nationals have been lawfully resident in the territory of the requesting party for most of their lives and socially and culturally integrated in the territory of the requesting party.
“Another ground of appeal may be where the nationals would face significant obstacles to their integration into the country to which they are to be deported.”
Onanuga explained that the agreement also includes multiple levels of identification and verification to ensure that only verified Nigerian nationals are repatriated.
Any errors discovered result in the individual being returned to the requesting country at its expense.
The MoU also provides for reintegration assistance, including airport reception, accommodation, transportation, family reunification, and support for education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship through the Returnee Education and Entrepreneurship Fund.
Officials reiterated that all documentation for returnees remains the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Immigration Service, ensuring full control over verification and property handling during repatriation.
