Japa: UK deports immigration offenders and failed asylum seekers to Nigeria and Ghana 

This was disclosed in a report published on the UK government’s official website.

According to the statement, a total of 43 individuals were removed on a charter flight. Those deported included 15 failed asylum seekers, 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences and 7 people who returned voluntarily.

“43 people returned to Nigeria and Ghana in an operation, part of a surge in returns activity to secure our border through the Plan for Change 

“Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. 7 people returned voluntarily,” the statement read. 

Naijaonpoint reported that Nigeria has recorded a total of 22,619 asylum applications to the UK between 2010 and 2024. In 2024, asylum claims saw a significant increase, rising by 94%, with 2,841 applications compared to 1,462 the previous year.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Angela Eagle, noted that the government’s Plan for Change is helping to fix the immigration system, speed up deportations, and reduce the reliance on expensive asylum hotels.

“This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders. 

Through the Plan for Change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.

I thank the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating this operation, which reflects our joint commitment to disrupt organised immigration crime and protect our borders,” she noted

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the FCDO Minister responsible for Irregular Migration, highlighted the importance of global cooperation in addressing irregular migration.

“Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration – by working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together. 

“I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change,” he noted. 

The UK government noted that since the last general election in the United Kingdom, two chartered flights have been organized to return individuals with no legal right to remain in the country.