Minister Rantanen meets with Nigerian Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Nigerian Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo met in Helsinki on 10 June. Topics on the agenda for their discussions included migration.

Finland supports the signing of a readmission agreement between the EU and Nigeria, and hopes that the agreement will be adopted swiftly on both sides.

“We really appreciate the readmission cooperation between our countries. It is important that our asylum and residence permit system works well and that people who have received a negative decision are returned to their home country,” says Minister of the Interior Rantanen.

Nigeria and the EU have a long and comprehensive cooperation on migration management, legal migration, protection and asylum, addressing root causes, readmission and reintegration, and the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.

Nigeria currently chairs the so-called Rabat Process (Northern and Western Africa). It aims to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Africa. The priorities include youth and innovation, diaspora engagement and the development of legal pathways.

The purpose of the meeting was also to promote exports, i.e. to open doors for Finnish security sector actors.

Inquiries:
Jenna Kuitunen, Senior Specialist, International Affairs Unit, tel. +358 295 488 276, firstname.lastname@gov.fi