The Republic of Ireland spent €324,714 (approximately N577m) to charter a flight for the deportation of 35 Nigerian nationals to Lagos, highlighting strict enforcement of immigration rules
The Republic of Ireland reportedly spent a significant €324,714, equivalent to approximately N577m, to hire a chartered flight for the deportation of 35 Nigerian nationals to Lagos on Wednesday night.
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This detail was brought to light by the Irish news outlet Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).
RTÉ News reported that the flight, which departed from Dublin Airport, transported 21 Nigerian men, nine women, and five children.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, disclosed the considerable cost of the chartered flight.
He explained that the operation was executed by An Garda Síochána (Irish police), Department of Justice staff, and prison officers, who accompanied the deportees throughout the journey.
The Minister confirmed that despite an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, all 35 returnees successfully arrived in Nigeria on Thursday morning.
O’Callaghan further added that this was the third instance this year that the country had resorted to using a chartered flight for deportations, underscoring its rigorous enforcement of immigration rules.
According to the Minister, the Nigerian deportees had failed to comply with an earlier deportation order served to them.
“People need to know that if they are served with a deportation order, it has meaning, and the meaning is that you are not entitled to stay in Ireland,” O’Callaghan was quoted as saying.
“If it is the case that you’re not permitted to stay, whether you have overstayed your work visa or haven’t been granted asylum, there must be a consequence.”
As of 1 pm on Saturday, the exchange rate stood at approximately N1,777.43 per €1, making the €324,714 expenditure indeed equivalent to about N577m in Nigerian currency.
In response to the deportation, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), through its spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated there was no issue with the deportation.
He clarified that the Irish government was not obligated to inform the commission prior to deporting any Nigerian citizen.
“There is no big deal in that. They have been deporting Nigerians before now. So, the country doesn’t have to inform us when it is not NIDCOM that is bringing the people. They have been deporting people.
Once you run afoul of the law of the land, they have the right to deport. So they don’t have to inform us,” Balogun commented.
The Irish government recommenced chartered flights for deportations in February 2025. According to Irish media, a total of 106 people have been deported through this channel so far.
The Irish Department of Justice has indicated that further charter operations will be carried out throughout the year, given that 2,403 deportation orders were signed in 2024.
