The Federal Government is seeking a fresh amnesty from Indian authorities for Nigerians detained over immigration violations, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The statement, signed by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the Nigerian High Commission in India had visited 198 Nigerians in five prisons across Maharashtra and was engaging Indian authorities on cases involving other citizens in custody.
The mission is also pushing for faster resolution of cases involving Nigerians awaiting trial, NiDCOM said.
An earlier amnesty programme, which commenced on May 1, 2025, gave eligible Nigerians with irregular immigration status an opportunity to leave India without penalties.
The initial six-month window was extended by three months, with more than 4,000 Nigerians subsequently returning home.
READ ALSO:Â NiDCOM Confirms Release Of Nigerians Held In Mauritius
Nigeria is now seeking a further three-to-six-month extension to enable more eligible citizens to leave.
NiDCOM said some Nigerians missed the earlier window and were subsequently detained.
It also disclosed that the High Commission was reviewing the case of a Nigerian identified as Ekene, whose release or return would depend on the circumstances of his case and applicable Indian procedures.
The commission stressed that any fresh amnesty would exclude Nigerians facing criminal trials, including drug-related offences.
The development follows a similar enforcement action in September 2025, when Indian authorities detained three Nigerians in New Delhi for alleged visa overstays and commenced deportation proceedings.
NiDCOM urged Nigerians without valid immigration status in India to use any new amnesty approved by the authorities and advised citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries.