THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Nigeria and the European Union have taken a significant step towards strengthening their migration cooperation with the signing of the EU–Nigeria Readmission Agreement. The deal is expected to make it easier for European countries to return Nigerians who have no legal right to remain in their territory. Here’s an analysis of what the agreement means for undocumented Nigerians living in Europe.
The European Union (EU) and Nigeria have signed a landmark agreement that could significantly strengthen European countries’ ability to return Nigerian nationals who no longer have the legal right to remain in Europe. The Readmission Agreement is an instrument that formalizes migration cooperation between the EU and Nigeria, clearly outlining the reciprocal obligations of both parties to the safety, dignity and human rights of their citizens during readmission processes
The agreement, signed in Abuja on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, marks a new phase in migration cooperation between both sides and has important implications for Nigerians living in Europe without valid residence permits.
The signing took place during the official visit to Nigeria by European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the agreement as a milestone in relations between Nigeria and the European Union, commending both parties for their steadfastness throughout the ten years of negotiations, which culminated in the the deal.
Commissioner Brunner also emphasised the significance of the development, saying: “Together we are turning dialogue into concrete action.”
For Nigerians in Europe, however, the agreement raises an important question: how will it affect those who are living in European countries without valid immigration papers, including people whose asylum applications have been rejected?
What is a readmission agreement?
A readmission agreement is a formal arrangement between countries under which each side undertakes to take back certain people who do not, or no longer, have the legal right to stay in the territory of the other.
In practical terms, the EU–Nigeria agreement establishes a framework for European authorities to return Nigerian nationals who have no legal entitlement to remain in an EU member state. In return, Nigeria is expected to accept the return of its nationals who meet the conditions set out in the agreement. The arrangement also covers people in the opposite situation: EU nationals who no longer have the right to remain in Nigeria.
One of the main obstacles European governments have faced in carrying out deportations has been establishing the identity and nationality of people without valid travel documents. Some individuals may not possess a passport, while others may dispute their nationality or be unable to obtain the documents required for their return.
The new agreement is intended to address these difficulties by establishing procedures for identifying individuals, confirming their nationality, issuing travel documents and organising their return.
The agreement has been under discussion for years. Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed in September that the negotiations dated back to 2016 and had been revived during discussions between Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Commissioner Brunner at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
What does it mean for Nigerians without legal papers in Europe?
The most immediate concern is for Nigerians who have exhausted their legal options to remain in Europe.
These include people whose asylum applications have been finally rejected, those whose residence permits have expired and not been renewed, and individuals who entered or remained in a European country without the required authorisation.
Under existing immigration laws, such individuals may already be issued with an order to leave the country. However, enforcing that order can be difficult if the authorities cannot establish their identity or obtain the necessary travel documents from their country of origin.
The new agreement is designed to make this process more efficient.
For example, where a Nigerian national has received a final negative asylum decision and has no other legal basis for remaining in Germany, the immigration authorities may seek to arrange their return to Nigeria. If the person’s identity or nationality is uncertain, the agreement provides a framework for cooperation with Nigerian authorities to establish it and facilitate the necessary documentation.
This could remove some of the practical obstacles that have previously delayed or prevented deportations.
It is important to understand, however, that the agreement does not mean that every Nigerian without valid papers in Europe will automatically be deported. Nor does it create a blanket deportation order against Nigerians.
Individual circumstances still matter. A person’s right to remain may depend on an outstanding asylum application, an appeal, family circumstances, protection needs, medical considerations or another legal basis for residence.
The agreement concerns cooperation between governments on the return of people who have no legal right to remain. It does not, in itself, determine whether an individual qualifies for international protection or has another entitlement to stay.
What happens to people who refuse to return?
The agreement is also intended to improve cooperation in cases where individuals do not cooperate with the return process.
Where a person has exhausted the available legal procedures and is under an enforceable obligation to leave, refusal to cooperate may make it more likely that the authorities will pursue compulsory return.
The new framework is expected to help European authorities obtain confirmation of nationality and the travel documents needed to carry out such returns.
It is also important to distinguish between people who have no legal right to remain and those whose immigration status is still being examined. Someone with a pending asylum application or an unresolved legal appeal is not in the same position as someone whose return decision has become enforceable.
Nigeria’s obligations and the question of reintegration
The agreement is not simply about Nigeria accepting the return of its citizens. It also raises questions about what happens to people when they arrive back home.
Nigeria has previously emphasised the need for a balanced migration partnership with the European Union, arguing that cooperation on returns should be accompanied by support for reintegration, infrastructure development and expanded legal migration opportunities.
During the September discussions in New York, Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that Nigeria wanted a framework that would address irregular migration while creating more opportunities for Nigerians to migrate legally.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in border management, the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and the possibility of expanding legal pathways for Nigerians seeking employment and other opportunities in Europe.
A new chapter in EU–Nigeria migration relations
The signing of the agreement represents a significant development in relations between Nigeria and the European Union. It reflects the EU’s determination to make the return of people without legal residence rights more effective and Nigeria’s willingness to cooperate on migration management.
For Nigerians living in Europe, particularly those without valid residence permits, the message is clear: the practical obstacles that have sometimes made deportation difficult may become easier to overcome once the agreement enters into force and its procedures are implemented.
At the same time, the agreement does not remove the legal protections available to migrants, nor does it replace the obligation of European authorities to examine individual cases fairly.
The challenge for both partners will be to ensure that cooperation on returns is accompanied by respect for human rights, effective reintegration support and credible opportunities for legal migration.
READ ALSO EU adopts new return rules: What rejected asylum-seekers should know
