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The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has defended its handling of Nigerians detained at a deportation camp in New Delhi, India, saying some of the detainees failed to use an amnesty offered by the Indian authorities to regularise their status or leave the country.
NiDCOM’s position followed criticism from journalist Rufai Oseni and other Nigerians over the commission’s response to the case of a detainee identified as Ekene and more than 200 other Nigerians reportedly held at the Lampur detention centre, Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Oseni said he had raised Ekene’s case weeks earlier and later sent his contact details to NiDCOM after Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa directed him to use official channels.
He subsequently alleged that neither the commission nor the Nigerian mission had contacted the detainee.
“I spoke to Ekene this evening, and he confirmed no one reached out,” Oseni posted on X, while appealing for assistance to secure Ekene’s release and return to Nigeria.
He later said Ekene told him that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility and described the conditions there as “harrowing”.
Oseni also shared correspondence relating to the case and appealed for assistance with flight arrangements for the detainees.
In its response, which Dabiri-Erewa shared on X, NiDCOM said India had introduced a targeted amnesty for undocumented Nigerian migrants from May 1, 2025.
The six-month programme was subsequently extended by three months following negotiations by Nigeria’s High Commissioner.
According to the commission, more than 4,000 Nigerians returned to the country under the amnesty without legal or administrative penalties.
However, it said some Nigerians did not take advantage of the window and were subsequently arrested and transferred to deportation camps.
NiDCOM said, “Regrettably, Ekene and some others did not take advantage of this program or its subsequent extension while it was active, and because he did not regularise his status or exit during the grace period, he was arrested and is currently being held in a deportation camp. Please note that he is not the only one awaiting deportation.”
The commission also explained that deportation arrangements are controlled by the host country.
It said Indian authorities typically wait until they have a sufficient number of detainees before organising an airlift, partly to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.
“Kindly note that the Nigerian High Commission in India is still actively engaging with the Indian authorities to advocate for a fresh extension of the amnesty programme,” NiDCOM said, adding that its legal team would continue to monitor the situation.
Oseni, however, rejected the explanation as inadequate and accused the commission of responding only after public pressure.
He maintained that the immediate priority should be securing the release and return of Ekene and other Nigerians, including those separated from their families in Nigeria.
The controversy has generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians questioning NiDCOM’s response to individual cases, while others argue that migrants who overstayed their visas or failed to use an available amnesty must also bear responsibility for their immigration status under Indian law.
