Germany’s Global Head of programme, migration and development, Ralf Sanftenberg, has revealed plans to deport over 12,000 Nigerians asylum seekers in the country next year.

Sanftenberg made the disclosure on Tuesday when he visited the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Sanftenber is currently in Nigeria on a site assessment mission for Nigerians who are voluntarily returning home.

He said: “We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers.

“There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year.”

According to him, Nigeria is not among war-torn countries and as such, asylum seekers from Nigeria would likely not be accepted.

Sanftenberg, however, said if the asylum seekers are willing to return to Nigeria voluntarily they would not be forced back or deported but would be assisted through a support programme organised by Germany.

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