Germany to Deport 14,000 Nigerians

By Iyojo Ameh

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, revealed that Germany is on the verge of deporting approximately 14,000 Nigerians who have been residing in the country for an extended period.

This decision comes in response to the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit individuals lacking the necessary identity documents, which has resulted in around 12,500 Nigerians living in Germany under a condition of tolerance.

Nigeria has historically been among the top 10 countries of origin for asylum applicants in Germany. However, in recent times, the number of asylum seekers from Nigeria has started to decline.

The sudden spike in initial asylum claims by Nigerians in 2023 has raised concerns in Germany.

Nigeria has expressed its willingness to welcome back its citizens, but with a caveat – they must have behaved well and be prepared to contribute positively to the country. In response, Germany is considering ceasing the 640 million euros in development funding it provides to Nigeria.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the deportation issue during talks with Nigerian officials, including President Bola Tinubu. He emphasized the need for collaboration to resolve the situation and stated, “We are prepared to collaborate to enhance migration,” adding that Germany would be willing to repatriate well-behaved Nigerian nationals.

President Bola Tinubu underlined that his administration is ready to allow people to return, especially those who are recognized as fellow citizens and have behaved well.

He stated, “Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back ‘as long as they have behaved well,’ but only if they stand to gain something from it. Rather, we ought to cease providing the 640 million euros in development funding.”

Scholz and Tinubu addressed lot of issue ls during their discussions, highlighting the importance of cooperation in improving the overall migration process. Chancellor Scholz reiterated, “If someone is a compatriot and has behaved well, we are willing to accept them back.”