Ireland spends N577m on deportation of 35 Nigerians

The Irish government has reportedly spent about N577 million (€324,714) on a chartered flight used to deport 35 Nigerians from Dublin to Lagos, as part of its tightened immigration enforcement measures.

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed the development, stating that the deportees had defied existing deportation orders and were removed as a demonstration that such directives hold weight. He insisted that individuals without legal residency status in Ireland would face removal from the country.

The chartered flight, which departed Dublin on Wednesday night, made an unscheduled stop due to a medical emergency onboard before arriving in Nigeria on Thursday morning. This incident marks the third deportation exercise using chartered aircraft by the Irish government in 2025 alone.

According to figures from Ireland’s Department of Justice, 106 individuals have been deported via chartered flights this year, with over 2,400 deportation orders signed in 2024.

Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) clarified that it was neither involved in the operation nor officially notified beforehand. NIDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, explained that Ireland, as a sovereign nation, is under no obligation to inform the Nigerian government before carrying out deportations.

The latest deportation involved 21 men, nine women, and five children, all escorted by personnel from An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, officials from the Department of Justice, and the Irish Prison Service.

Irish authorities have defended the move as a necessary part of upholding immigration laws and maintaining national order, while more deportations are expected in the months ahead.