ABUJA, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – Nigeria and the European Union have signed a long-awaited readmission agreement after about 10 years of negotiations. The accord sets out procedures to identify and return people who have no legal right to stay in Nigeria or in an EU member state. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner signed it in Abuja on Tuesday. The signing took place during Brunner’s official visit to the country.
The European Commission said the agreement establishes clear and effective procedures for the safe and orderly return and readmission of people. It applies to those who do not, or no longer, fulfil the conditions for entry, presence or residence. The aim is to make returns faster and more predictable for both sides. Respect for national and international law is central to the cooperation, the Commission said. Nigeria’s information ministry said the ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
“Nigeria is a key partner for Europe, and our ties are steadily growing stronger,” Brunner said, according to The Brussels Times. He said both sides were turning dialogue into concrete action through stronger security cooperation and better migration management. Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended both parties for their commitment throughout the negotiations. She said the agreement reflected a shared resolve and Nigeria’s commitment to the dignified return of its citizens.
Talks began in 2016
EU member states authorised the Commission to negotiate a readmission agreement with Nigeria on September 12, 2016. The accord is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration, security and forced displacement, which also includes legal pathways to Europe. According to the Commission, the wider partnership also creates opportunities, prevents dangerous journeys and targets human traffickers and smugglers. The EU has formal readmission agreements or practical arrangements on return with 24 countries. The bloc has also stepped up action against migrant smuggling and trafficking.
Alongside the deal, the two sides launched a Senior Officials Dialogue on Migration and Security. The forum will support coordination across both policy areas. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she expected cooperation to cover education, capacity-building and vocational training. Brunner also met government representatives and national stakeholders to discuss migration management, including return and readmission.
Ratification steps ahead
The agreement must first win the consent of the European Parliament. The Council of the EU will then formally conclude its ratification. It will take effect on the first day of the second month after both sides confirm completion. The deal comes weeks after the Council adopted new EU rules on returns on October 1, 2026. The new rules include a European Return Order that lets member states recognise each other’s return decisions.
The EU has kept migration control high on its agenda after illegal border crossings into the bloc declined in 2025. European leaders called in October 2024 for faster and increased returns of people with no right to stay. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is among the bloc’s key partners in West Africa. The new dialogue will provide a regular channel for cooperation between Abuja and Brussels.