By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals to Nigeria and Ghana as part of its intensified efforts to strengthen border security under the government’s “Plan for Change” initiative.
According to a statement released Friday on the official government website, the deportees include 15 failed asylum seekers, 11 foreign national offenders who had completed prison sentences, and seven individuals who voluntarily agreed to return.
This latest operation marks the second deportation flight to Nigeria and Ghana since the most recent general election, bringing the total number of individuals removed to these two West African nations to 87. Officials underscored that the removals demonstrate growing diplomatic cooperation between the UK, Nigeria, and Ghana on immigration enforcement.
Since the start of the current administration, more than 24,000 individuals have been deported — an 11 percent increase over the previous year. The number of deported foreign national offenders alone rose by 16 percent, with 3,594 removals recorded. Authorities stressed that all deportations were conducted “in a dignified and respectful manner.”
UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Angela Eagle, praised the operation, stating:
“This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders. Through the Plan for Change, we are restoring order to a broken system, accelerating the removal of those with no right to remain, and reducing reliance on costly asylum hotels.”
Eagle also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments for their assistance in facilitating the deportations, noting the shared commitment to disrupting organized immigration crime.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister for Irregular Migration at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration.
“Working internationally is crucial to tackling irregular migration. I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK and deliver on the Plan for Change,” she said.
The deportations follow the recent Organised Immigration Crime Summit hosted by the UK, where representatives from over 40 countries – including Nigeria and Ghana – convened to reinforce global efforts against smuggling networks and bolster border security.
