Blog

“In a concerning trend of deportations spanning multiple European countries, it has been reported that a total of 170 Nigerians were deported within a nine-month period in 2023. This information is based on a compilation of reports and data gathered from the websites of various migration agencies in these countries.

One notable incident occurred in May when a family of four siblings, aged between 11 and 17, along with their mother, were deported alongside 35 others to Nigeria. This reflects a growing pattern of minors being deported from Germany, which has intensified in recent months. During the period from late May to July 4, Germany deported 80 Nigerian migrants, including children with severe health conditions requiring surgery.

Subsequently, an additional 50 individuals, comprising 48 males and two females, were deported from various European countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Spain, and Hungary. These events underscore a broader picture of migration trends and policies being enforced at European borders.

Germany, known for its stringent migration policies, has played a significant role in this surge of deportations. The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has reported an extended processing time of approximately eight months for Nigerian asylum applicants.

In March, the German Interior Ministry indicated that regular asylum proceedings for Nigerians took more than a year, while applicants from Somalia and Ghana waited for 11 months for a response. Similarly, Sweden and Lithuania have also increased the return of Nigerian nationals as they tighten their asylum policies.

Furthermore, in June, EU interior ministers made decisions that rights groups argue jeopardize the right to asylum for refugees. They agreed to detain refugees in camps at the EU’s external borders, expedite asylum applications, and potentially deport individuals to developing countries. Critics have raised concerns about the thoroughness and fairness of these fast-track procedures.

The report reveals that only refugees from countries with a recognition rate of at least 20 percent across the EU can file asylum claims under regular procedures. Currently, countries with recognition rates below this threshold include Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.

Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, the Executive Director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, expressed concerns about the challenges faced by individuals forcibly returned to Nigeria. She emphasized the need for comprehensive counseling and trauma-informed care to support their reintegration into society.

Ladipo-Sanusi stressed the importance of collaboration between European countries and Nigeria to manage migration flows effectively and prevent deportations. She called for policy reform, community engagement, and international cooperation as part of a multifaceted approach to address this issue.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rhoda Iliya, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.”