German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced plans to deport nearly 14,000 Nigerians who have been residing in Germany for some time. This decision is based on the significant number of initial asylum applications from Nigerians in 2023 and the comparatively low recognition rate.
Approximately 12,500 Nigerians currently reside in Germany under a “condition of tolerance” due to the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit individuals without the necessary identity documents. Nigeria has previously been one of the top ten countries of origin for German asylum applicants, but this number has recently been declining.
The surge in initial asylum claims in 2023 has raised concerns, leading to the potential deportation of nearly 14,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom lack the necessary identification cards. Nigeria is willing to welcome them back as long as they have “behaved well,” but the German Chancellor has suggested that the €640 million in development funding provided to Nigeria could be reevaluated.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed the importance of cooperation with Nigerian officials to address the deportation situation. He expressed readiness to collaborate to improve migration and stated that Germany would be willing to repatriate Nigerian nationals who have behaved responsibly.
While the specific terms of cooperation and the logistics of returning these individuals to Nigeria remain to be determined, the issue underscores the challenges both countries face in managing migration, particularly in terms of asylum claims, identity documents, and cooperation in the process.
