International Migration Governance, Deportation Diplomacy, and the Reintegration of Irregular Migrants in Imo State

Irregular migration and forced deportation have become significant dimensions of Nigeria's international migration governance landscape, as European countries and Gulf states increasingly negotiate return and readmission agreements with Abuja as conditions attached to development aid and trade partnerships. Imo State, identified in multiple migration monitoring reports as a significant origin state for irregular migrants attempting the Mediterranean route, bears a disproportionate reintegration burden as deportees return often without adequate preparation, social support, or livelihood alternatives. This study examines how international migration governance frameworks, particularly EU-Nigeria readmission negotiations and bilateral deportation agreements with Libya, Saudi Arabia, and European states, shape the reintegration experiences of returned irregular migrants in Imo State between 2021 and 2024. A qualitative methodology is employed, combining life history interviews with deportee returnees, focus group discussions with community associations, and interviews with IOM reintegration program officers and Imo State Social Welfare Ministry officials. Migration governance theory and the irregular migration political economy framework guide the analysis. Findings reveal that deportation processes frequently violate international standards for voluntary return and adequate procedural safeguards, particularly in Libya-based deportations. Reintegration programs in Imo State are underfunded and inadequately staffed relative to the volume of returnees, resulting in high rates of re-migration intention. The study recommends rights-compliant deportation procedures in bilateral negotiations and substantially enhanced reintegration investment tied to longer-term livelihood support. Keywords: irregular migration, deportation diplomacy, reintegration, Imo State, migration governance