The Government of India deported at least 2,356 Nigerians between 2019 and 2024, with the number of removals rising sharply in recent years, official data from the Ministry of Home Affairs shows.
The findings indicate that Nigerians accounted for the largest share of foreign nationals deported from India, representing nearly two-thirds of all removals conducted by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) across seven major cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Amritsar, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
In the most recent reporting period, spanning April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, Indian authorities deported over 2,331 persons, with Nigerians comprising 63 per cent of the total foreign nationals removed. This figure surpasses deportations of nationals from neighboring countries, with Bangladesh recording 411 removals and Uganda 78 within the same period.
A closer look at the data reveals that an average of more than 120 Nigerians were deported monthly between 2023 and 2024, equivalent to roughly four deportations per day.
Historical data shows that the trend is not new but has intensified over time. In 2019, 547 Nigerians were deported, representing 44.3 per cent of the total 1,233 foreign nationals removed that year.
By contrast, deportations surged from 339 in 2021 to 1,470 in the 2023–2024 fiscal period, marking a 333 per cent increase, while Nigeria’s share of total deportations rose from 44 per cent in 2019 to 63 per cent in 2023–2024.
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Officials noted that most deportations were linked to expired visas and drug-related offences, with many affected individuals initially entering India on student visas but remaining in the country after their permits had lapsed.
Recent estimates put the number of Nigerians living and working in India at over 60,000, making it the largest West African community in the country. The surge in deportations underscores ongoing challenges related to visa compliance and legal residence, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to immigration regulations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has continued to enforce deportation measures while monitoring overstays and illegal activities among foreign nationals to maintain public safety and regulatory compliance.