The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has shed light on the precarious situation of over 14,000 Nigerians residing in Germany who are at risk of deportation. According to Scholz, this issue is primarily linked to the surge in the number of Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany, a significant portion of whom lacks proper identification cards.
Scholz elaborated on the matter during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, where they discussed potential solutions to this complex issue.
“The current spike in Nigerians filing initial asylum claims in 2023 has sparked worries. Nearly 14,000 Nigerians might be deported, and the great majority of them do not have the necessary identification cards,” Chancellor Scholz stated.
He further expressed Germany’s readiness to collaborate with Nigerian authorities to improve migration processes. Scholz emphasized that Germany is willing to repatriate any Nigerian national who has exhibited good behavior during their stay in Germany.
President Tinubu acknowledged the need for cooperation to address this challenge and underlined his administration’s willingness to accept the return of Nigerians, especially those recognized as fellow citizens who have conducted themselves appropriately.
“Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back, as long as they have behaved well, and there is something to gain from it,” President Tinubu stated.
He also hinted at the possibility of revisiting the financial support provided by Germany, stating, “Rather, we ought to cease providing the 640 million euros in development funding.”
Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is open to collaboration to enhance migration processes and find a resolution to the deportation issue. The President also noted that, while Nigeria had been one of the top ten countries of origin for German asylum applicants, the numbers have recently started to decline.
The situation remains a concern for both countries, and the willingness to cooperate in addressing it was evident during the meeting between the German Chancellor and the Nigerian President.