The United Kingdom said it has signed an ambitious three-year strategic plan with Nigeria to strengthen cooperation against organised immigration crime and enhance border security.
According to a joint statement issued on Thursday by the UK Home Office, both countries said the initiative was agreed on the occasion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.
“We, the undersigned, announce our intention to expand cooperation to reduce organised immigration crime and the risks associated with it,” the statement read, stressing that migration and border control remain “a matter of significant importance” to both nations.
The agreement, signed by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, outlines a comprehensive framework to tackle visa abuse, strengthen legal systems, and improve operational collaboration.
Under the plan, according to the statement, Nigeria will review its legal framework to ensure stricter penalties for immigration-related offences, particularly those involving false document production.
Both countries also pledged to expand the legal basis for prosecuting offenders and tighten regulations around travel and visa documentation.
The two sides further committed to strengthening the UK–Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit through new Memoranda of Understanding on operational engagement and data sharing.
