German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that no fewer than 14,000 Nigerians living in Germany risk deportation. The spike in the number of Nigerians seeking asylum, coupled with the absence of identification cards for many of these individuals, has prompted the German government to take action.
Scholz stated during a meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, “The recent surge in Nigerian asylum applications has raised concerns. About 14,000 Nigerians could be deported, and the vast majority of them lack the required identification cards.”
The German Chancellor added that approximately 12,500 Nigerians are currently in a state of tolerance in Germany due to the Nigerian government’s reluctance to accept individuals without the necessary documentation.
“We are prepared to cooperate in order to improve migration,” Scholz emphasized, adding that Germany is willing to repatriate any Nigerian national who has demonstrated good behavior.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu expressed his willingness to collaborate with Germany to resolve the deportation issue. He also emphasized that his government is prepared to allow individuals to return, particularly those who are considered fellow citizens and have acted appropriately.
“Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back ‘as long as they have behaved well,’ but only if they stand to gain something from it,” Tinubu said. “Instead, we should halt the provision of €640 million in development funding.”
“If someone is a compatriot and has ‘behaved well,’ we are willing to accept them back,” Tinubu reiterated.
“We’re prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration,” he concluded.
Nigeria had long been among the top 10 countries of origin for German asylum applicants, but the number of Nigerians seeking asylum has recently started to fall.
