The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has provided an update on the case of Mr. Ekene Vitus Chukwuma, a Nigerian currently being held at Lampur Detention Camp in Delhi, India. Chukwuma was arrested in December 2025 for visa overstay, after remaining in India without valid immigration documentation. According to NIDCOM, Chukwuma had informed a Consular Officer of the Nigerian High Commission in India that he had sent his wife and three children back to Nigeria but chose to remain in India for business.
NIDCOM stated that Chukwuma's Nigerian passport had expired in 2020, but he was issued an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) by the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate his return during an amnesty period. However, he did not utilize the ETC, choosing instead to remain in India. He was subsequently arrested, while the ETC issued to him expired during his detention. This development has raised concerns about the consequences of overstaying in a foreign country.
Deportation matters in India are handled by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which conducts necessary checks and clearance before detainees can be deported. NIDCOM disclosed that several Nigerians in detention have already been cleared, while others remain in custody awaiting deportation. Once detainees are cleared and ready for deportation, they are expected to bear the cost of their return, while the Nigerian High Commission issues Emergency Travel Certificates upon receiving formal deportation requests.
The Nigerian High Commission in India recently received reports alleging that some detainees were involved in the sale of illegal substances within a deportation camp. Some detainees had petitioned the FRRO over the alleged activities. NIDCOM stressed that Chukwuma's case should be viewed in the context of his decision to remain in India despite having received an opportunity to return during the amnesty period.
The Spokesperson of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that the Nigerian High Commission in India would continue to monitor Chukwuma's situation, alongside that of hundreds of other Nigerians facing deportation issues. The Commission has requested another six-month amnesty period for Nigerians residing and working illegally in India to enable them to return home without payment of penalties.
The initiative is consistent with the Federal Government's citizen-centred diplomacy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. The High Commission plans to undertake consular visits to prisons and detention facilities across other Indian provinces to assess the welfare of Nigerian inmates and report its findings to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
NIDCOM urged Nigerians living abroad to respect the laws and immigration regulations of their host countries. The Commission reiterated its warning to Nigerians abroad to always obey the law of their host countries and avoid any form of illegality. This warning comes as the Commission continues to monitor the situation of Nigerians in detention and deportation camps.
Key points
- NIDCOM warns Nigerians abroad to respect host countries' laws and immigration regulations.
- The Commission requests another six-month amnesty period for Nigerians in India to return home without penalties.
- Chukwuma's case highlights the consequences of overstaying in a foreign country without valid documentation.
