The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said that the government deported about 828 illegal immigrants.
Speaking at a media parley in Abuja in 2024 on Tuesday, he said the exercise was carried out by the operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
However, the minister did not make mention of any criminal acts or criminal elements among those who were sent out of the country.
Nigeria’s constitution states that immigrants who wish to reside in the country must have permits for residency.
The NIS estimates illegal immigrants in the country to be about 300,000 who are mostly from Chad, Niger, Benin, and Cameroun.
In the 1980s, the Shehu Shagari administration deported many illegal immigrants especially Ghanaians which was termed the ‘Ghana must Go.’
The minister stated that the residency permits of expatriates would not be automatically renewed henceforth except for special reasons.