The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said that at least 14,000 Nigerians living in Germany and seeking asylum risk deportation for lack of identification cards
According to Scholz, approximately 12,500 Nigerians are in a condition of tolerance in Germany as a result of the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit people without the necessary identity documents.
The German Chancellor, who made this explanation while speaking during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday, said that “The current spike in Nigerians filing initial asylum claims in 2023 has sparked worries.”
He noted that “Nearly 14,000 Nigerians might be deported, and the great majority of them do not have the necessary identification cards.
“We are prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration,” adding that Germany would be happy to send back any Nigerian national who had behaved well.
In his reaction, President Tinubu alluded to the potential for cooperation in order to resolve the matter of the impending deportation.
Tinubu said that his administration was ready to allow people to return, especially those who were recognised as fellow citizens and had behaved well.
He said that “Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back as long as they have behaved well, but only if they stand to gain something from it. Rather, we ought to cease providing the 640 million euros in development funding.
“If someone is a compatriot and has ‘behaved well,’ we are willing to accept them back.
“We’re prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration.”
