Over 200 Nigerians remain stranded in a deportation camp in New Delhi, India, awaiting removal after overstaying their visas, with some describing conditions as harsh and appealing for urgent assistance to return home.
The detainees are being held at the Lampur detention centre, also referred to as Sewa Sadan, according to accounts shared publicly in mid-September 2026.
One of those held, identified as Ekene Vitus Chukwuma, told journalist Rufai Oseni that more than 200 Nigerians were in the facility and characterised the conditions as “harrowing.” Appeals for help have circulated on social media, with detainees and their supporters calling on Nigerian authorities and the public for intervention to facilitate their return.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that a number of Nigerians are awaiting deportation in India.
In statements issued this week, NiDCOM explained that the Indian government introduced a targeted amnesty programme for undocumented Nigerian migrants beginning on May 1, 2025.
The initial six-month window was later extended by three months following negotiations by Nigeria’s High Commissioner. More than 4,000 Nigerians took advantage of the opportunity and returned home without legal or administrative penalties.
According to NiDCOM, those who did not regularise their status or leave during the amnesty period were subsequently arrested and placed in deportation camps. The commission stated that Chukwuma was among those who remained in India after the grace period and was arrested in December 2025 for visa overstay.
It said he had been issued an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) during the amnesty but did not use it, and that his Nigerian passport had expired in 2020. NiDCOM noted that deportation decisions rest with Indian authorities, specifically the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which must clear individuals before they can leave.
Chukwuma has disputed aspects of NiDCOM’s account, including the timeline of when his ETC was issued and details about his family. He maintained that he has been seeking to return and called for faster action.
NiDCOM has rejected claims that it misrepresented the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India continues to monitor the cases of Chukwuma and hundreds of other Nigerians awaiting deportation. The mission has also requested a further six-month amnesty extension to allow more undocumented Nigerians to leave without penalties.
Indian authorities have deported thousands of Nigerians in recent years for immigration violations, with numbers rising significantly. Deportation requires clearance by Indian officials, after which the Nigerian High Commission can issue new travel documents. Some detainees have reported delays even after arranging tickets, though these claims have not been independently verified by Nigerian officials.
NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the commission have emphasised that consular assistance continues while stressing that individuals must comply with the host country’s immigration laws. The situation has drawn public attention in Nigeria, with calls for accelerated efforts to bring the stranded citizens home.
As of Thursday, September 17, 2026, no comprehensive timeline for the mass deportation of those still held has been publicly announced by either the Indian or Nigerian authorities.
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