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1,470 Nigerians deported from India between April 2023 and March 2024
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Nigerians account for nearly two-thirds of all foreign nationals removed
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Major reasons cited: expired visas and drug-related offences
The Government of India deported 1,470 Nigerians in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, making them the largest nationality among foreign nationals expelled from the country.
According to data from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Nigerians made up 63% of the 2,331 deportations carried out by Foreigners Regional Registration Offices in seven major cities: Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Amritsar, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
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Bangladesh recorded 411 deportations (17.6%), while Uganda accounted for 78 removals (3.3%). On average, about 122 Nigerians were deported monthly, roughly four per day.
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The deportations were largely linked to expired visas and involvement in drug-related activities. Several deportations, including those of Onyeukwu Victor and Victor Obasi in Hyderabad, were tied to alleged narcotics offences, although not all individuals had drugs recovered at the time of arrest.
Despite the high deportation numbers, Nigerians continue to maintain a sizeable presence in India, with an estimated 60,000 residents as of 2025, forming the largest West African community in the country.
The report noted ongoing bilateral engagement between Nigeria and India, including the 2023 G20 Summit meeting between Bola Tinubu and Narendra Modi and Modi’s 2024 visit to Nigeria.
Trade and investment between the two nations remain strong, though trade declined from $11.8bn in 2022–23 to $7.89bn in 2023–24, mainly due to reduced crude oil imports.
Indian authorities have highlighted the importance of addressing visa compliance and national security, while states such as Goa have actively enforced deportation measures to curb illegal stays and drug trafficking.
