The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals to Ghana and Nigeria as part of its intensified efforts to strengthen border security under the government’s “Plan for Change” immigration policy.
The deported group included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign nationals who had completed prison sentences in the UK. In addition, seven individuals reportedly returned voluntarily.
The chartered flight, which departed on Thursday, marks the second major deportation operation to Ghana and Nigeria since the current administration assumed office, bringing the total number of returnees to the two countries to 87.
UK officials emphasized that the operation reflects growing collaboration between Britain and the governments of Ghana and Nigeria to tackle irregular migration and enforce immigration laws effectively.
“This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders,” said Angela Eagle, the UK’s Minister for Border Security and Asylum.
“Through the Plan for Change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels,” Eagle added. She also thanked the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating the deportations, citing a shared commitment to disrupting organized immigration crime and protecting national borders.
According to data from the UK Home Office, more than 24,000 people have been returned since the current administration took office—a figure that represents an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Deportations of foreign national offenders have also seen a notable rise, with 3,594 criminals removed, marking a 16% increase.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, stressed the importance of international cooperation in addressing irregular migration challenges.
“Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration—by working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together,” she said. “I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change.”
The “Plan for Change” policy aims to accelerate deportations, reduce dependency on temporary accommodations such as hotels for asylum seekers, and deter unlawful immigration through more stringent enforcement actions.
As the UK government strengthens its focus on border control, its collaboration with African nations like Ghana and Nigeria is expected to deepen, setting the stage for more structured and systematic returns in the future.
