Why Europe Is Quietly Deporting Nigerians
By Adejuwon Soyinka
Lately, Europe has been deporting more Nigerians than it used to.
Quietly and with growing political urgency, European governments are accelerating removals of African migrants.
By late 2025, data cited by the civil liberties group, Statewatch, showed that more than 1,800 Nigerians had been deported from Europe, most of them from Germany.
Officially, these removals are described as “returns.” In practice, they signal a deeper shift in Europe’s migration policy.
Across the EU, migration has become one of the most combustible political issues. Governments are under pressure from voters, the rise of the far right, and overstretched asylum systems.
The response has been blunt and consistent: fewer arrivals, faster deportations, and fewer legal obstacles to removal.
Nigeria has emerged as a key test case. It has one of the largest African populations in Europe, strong diplomatic and economic ties with the EU, and enough influence to set a precedent. What works with Nigeria can be replicated elsewhere on the continent.
Behind the technical language of “partnerships” and “migration management” lies a harsher reality: sudden removals, separated families, and weakened legal protections for deportees.
In this edition of The Insight Vodcast, we speak with Frey Lindsay of Statewatch to explain what the EU wants from Nigeria, how this deportation system operates, and why it matters far beyond Europe’s borders.
Watch the full explainer to understand why this development matters.
The Insight in 5 Stories
1. Egyptians top irregular crossing into Europe
New data from the EU border agency Frontex shows Egyptians have become the leading African nationality migrating to Europe, with over 16,000 irregular sea crossings recorded in 2025.
Why it matters: This shift highlights changing migration patterns across Africa, sometimes driven by economic hardship and political repression. It also underscores emerging pressures on European asylum systems and the need for policy responses that address root causes as well as border management.
2. New US remittance tax takes effect
As of January 1 2026, a 1 percent remittance tax introduced in the United States under the Big Beautiful Bill began affecting money sent home by Africans living and working in the US. This tax is particularly focused on transfers funded by cash, money orders or cashier’s cheques. There are however exemptions for transfers made using digital and banking methods including the use of digital wallets such as Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Why it matters: Remittances are a lifeline for many African households. They are often used to fund food, school fees, healthcare, savings and small businesses. Even a small tax bite can reduce disposable income for families in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and beyond.
3. Africa’s US$1 trillion AI opportunity
A new African Development Bank report suggests that artificial intelligence could add US$1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035. This is projected to create millions of jobs, and transform key sectors like agriculture, healthcare, finance and manufacturing. The report isn’t just tech optimism, it’s a roadmap for economic growth, digital inclusion and global competitiveness. But realising it will require investment, skills and policy coordination across the continent. This future is closer than many assume and the decisions made now will shape where and how Africans benefit from the AI revolution.
Why it matters: AI isn’t abstract tech, it could reshape Africa’s economic trajectory, generate 35-40 million jobs, boost tax revenues, and expand opportunities for young people both at home and in the diaspora. Understanding this potential prepares Africans for where investment, policy and career opportunities will converge over the next decade.
4. China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year kicks off
China and Africa recently launched the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Launched at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the programme signals deepening cultural, educational and diplomatic engagement between China and African countries. It aims to deepen ties through nearly 600 planned events in culture, education, youth, tourism, and sports. It is building on the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) consensus to strengthen traditional friendship and mutual learning between civilizations.
Why it matters: As global power dynamics shift, expanded China-Africa exchanges can create new opportunities, and new questions, about economic influence, soft power and agenda-setting for young Africans at home and abroad.
5. China, Russia and Iran conduct naval drills off South African coast
Recently, dozens of Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships converged off the coast of South Africa for a week-long joint naval exercises, signalling a shift in strategic military cooperation and global alliances. The drills come amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly between Pretoria and the United States. It’s seen as part of a broader effort by BRICS and allied states to assert a multipolar security posture. Critics, including South African opposition leaders, have however warned that this could reshape regional security dynamics and impact foreign relations across Africa and beyond.
Why it matters: South Africa’s role in hosting these drills places the continent at the center of shifting global power balances. For Africans at home and in the diaspora, this has implications for national security policy, economic partnerships, and how African states navigate between Western and non-Western influence.
Did you know?
Africa is the only continent that straddles the Equator and both the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Proverb of the week
“The one who travels alone believes the world is silent.” - Amhara people of Ethiopia (Horn of Africa)
Meaning: It warns against excessive individualism as a person acting alone may mistake limited understanding for complete truth.
Until next Monday…
If you found this useful, don’t keep it a secret, forward it to someone you care about and encourage them to subscribe. Follow us on YouTube and social media: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
You can also send us feedback, including topics you would like us to cover, at connect@theinsight.uk. We’re happy to listen.
Stay smart. Stay bold.
– The Insight Team
Well done.