By Iqrom Tesilim
The Nigerian government has given assurances that the personal property of returnees under the Nigeria-UK migration partnership will be protected during the repatriation process.
This assurance was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Onanuga, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom provides a framework for safe and regulated migration flows, while ensuring that returnees are treated with dignity and respect.
The agreement stipulates that returnees can carry their legally acquired personal belongings, marking a departure from past practices where property was sometimes left behind or confiscated.
The MoU also outlines multiple levels of identification and verification to ensure that only verified Nigerian nationals are repatriated.
Any errors discovered will result in the individual being returned to the requesting country at its expense. Furthermore, the agreement provides for reintegration assistance, including airport reception, accommodation, transportation, family reunification, and support for education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship through the Returnee Education and Entrepreneurship Fund.
Onanuga emphasized that the Nigerian government will maintain full control over verification and property handling during repatriation, with all documentation remaining the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The agreement also considers the human rights and humanitarian circumstances of returnees, allowing for appeals in cases where individuals have been lawfully resident in the requesting country for most of their lives or face significant obstacles to integration in the country to which they are being deported.
The MoU is seen as a significant step towards ensuring the safe and dignified return of Nigerian nationals, while also strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the UK on migration issues.
As the implementation of the agreement moves forward, the Nigerian government is expected to work closely with UK authorities to ensure its successful execution.
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