Government confirms Nigerian asylum deal

The Government today described as "unfounded" the suggestion that Ireland would pay Nigeria £8.8 million under the freshly signed readmission deal.

The deal was signed last night in the Nigerian city of Abuja by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O’Donoghue.

It agreed procedures for deporting failed asylum-seekers and will come into effect within months.

Mr O’Donoghue said the deal would continue the State’s co-operation with Nigeria on poverty reduction and basic needs.

He added consideration was being given to training for people being repatriated in order to assist with their reintegration.

This would include an examination of opportunities for legal access to the Irish labour market for Nigerians.

A committee would be formed to oversee the implementation of the readmission deal, the Minister confirmed.

The Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development, Ms O’Donnell, said today the readmission plan was "not conditional nor does it guarantee a specified amount of funding be channelled to development projects in Nigeria and therefore the figure of £8.8 million is absurd".

According to Ms O’Donnell, all aid to Nigeria from Ireland is channelled through NGOs and missionary groups rather than through the Nigerian Government.

She said Ireland Aid spent over £350,000 through NGOs and missionaries on development co-operation in Nigeria so far in 2001.

Mr Peter O’Mahony of the Irish Refugee Council criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement saying a copy was not made available for consultation before it was signed.

He said the IRC would not oppose readmission in principle if certain criteria were met, including the "full examination" of every individual’s application.

Mr O’Mahony also said any exchange of information should be limited to what exclusively related to the deportation. "What we don’t want is someone being deported and details of their family members remaining within the State being passed on for example," he said.

The deal has been criticised by a number of groups including the Association of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Ireland, the Union of Nigerian Citizens Resident In Ireland and Residents Against Racism.

Nigerian newspapers have reported opposition where two men launched a legal action in the Nigerian Federal High Court against the deal.