The UK and Nigeria published a joint communiqué on 16 October 2026 setting out commitments on migration, returns, organised immigration crime, extradition and drugs, agreed at talks held on 6 October 2026.
The Home Office published the joint communiqué on 16 October 2026. It records the annual Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs dialogue, jointly chaired in London on 6 October 2026 by senior officials of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Home Office. The previous dialogue was hosted in Abuja in October 2025.
The communiqué is organised under eight pillars and sets out commitments and agreed future meetings.
Migration. The communiqué refers to the March 2026 State Visit of President Tinubu, which included the signing of a statement launching a three-year programme of enhanced cooperation against Organised Immigration Crime (OIC). Discussions focused on the programme of activity announced to support verification of documents in visa applications, operational co-operation, joint research and analysis, and support to policy and practical border security solutions. The two countries also jointly committed to support development of Nigerian visa pathway programmes.
Returns and reintegration. Both sides affirmed their cooperation on returning individuals who have no lawful reason to remain in each other's territories, and reflected on the newly reinvigorated Migration Partnership Agreement. They committed to lead a reintegration conference early next year and to re-engage on criminal data sharing for the purposes of return.
Organised Immigration Crime. The countries recommitted to finalising data sharing agreements. They agreed an expert session on intelligence sharing and a strategic briefing on the threat from organised immigration crime, and committed to hold both before the end of the year.
Justice and crime. The communiqué also covers extradition, asset recovery, prisoner transfer, serious and organised crime, including cyber-enabled fraud, and drug trafficking. On prisoner transfer, the two countries agreed to review and update the legal terminologies of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement through an immediate supplementary meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee.
The countries committed to jointly monitor progress against their commitments on an ongoing basis. Nigeria will host the next annual talks in 2027.
What this means for applicants
The communiqué records commitments between the two governments, including activity to support verification of documents in visa applications and support for development of Nigerian visa pathway programmes. It does not set out dates or requirements for individual applicants.