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• Nigeria and the UK have signed three MoUs covering migration, border security, and business visas.
• The agreements aim to curb irregular migration while boosting legal mobility for businesses.
• A $950 million Lagos ports modernisation deal was also unveiled during the visit.
• The moves signal deeper economic and security cooperation between the two countries.

The agreements, concluded with UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Trade Envoy Florence Eshalomi, focus on tackling organised immigration crime, improving border management, and expanding access to business visas for UK firms operating in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the deals reflect the country’s commitment to a “transparent, rules-based migration system that is safe, orderly and mutually beneficial,” while addressing the abuse of legal migration pathways.

Beyond security, the agreements are expected to ease business travel and support trade flows between both countries, aligning with Nigeria’s broader ambition to drive economic growth and attract foreign investment.

Britain's King Charles III and Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu hold hands as they leave, following a ceremonial welcome in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on March 18, 2026, on the first day of a two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom by Nigeria's President. [Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images]

The development comes alongside a wider set of engagements during Tinubu’s two-day visit, including a £746 million financing agreement, equivalent to roughly $950 million, to modernise key port infrastructure in Lagos.

The upgrade will target the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, two of Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateways that handle a significant share of the country’s import and export traffic.

Analysts say improved port efficiency, combined with streamlined visa access for investors, could enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness as a business destination, particularly for British firms seeking to expand in Africa’s largest economy.

The latest agreements underscore a growing alignment between London and Abuja on migration control, trade facilitation, and economic cooperation amid shifting global mobility and investment patterns.