The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that more than 840,000 foreign nationals are currently residing in Nigeria beyond the validity of their visas, underscoring what he described as a growing migration concern.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on
Tuesday, the minister said the figures were obtained from the country’s newly
enhanced immigration monitoring system, which now offers more accurate data on
migration patterns.
He explained that the situation mirrors global trends,
noting that Nigeria, like many other countries, is grappling with the issue of
visa overstays.
“As of this morning, our upgraded system shows that we have
about 848,290 individuals from various countries who have overstayed their
visas in Nigeria,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that addressing irregular migration is
essential for national security and requires stronger systems for monitoring
and enforcement. He added that individuals without valid residency status are
often at risk of exploitation and may be linked to criminal activities such as
human trafficking and smuggling.
The minister also called for stronger international
cooperation, particularly through bilateral agreements that support the safe
and “dignified return” of individuals who no longer have legal permission to
remain in a country.
He, however, dismissed speculations that Nigeria might enter
into agreements requiring it to accept foreign prisoners, stating that such
arrangements would not be considered by the current administration.
“There is no possibility of this government agreeing to any
deal that involves bringing foreign inmates into Nigeria,” he said.
Clarifying the recent migration agreement between Nigeria
and the United Kingdom, Tunji-Ojo said the deal is strictly reciprocal and
applies only to Nigerian citizens.
He maintained that the government has been open about the
terms of the agreement, adding that it does not include any provision for the
transfer of foreign prisoners into the country.
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