The British High Commission in Nigeria has responded to growing concerns over potential changes to UK visa policies, reaffirming its commitment to supporting legal migration and genuine travel, while continuing efforts to prevent immigration abuse.
A spokesperson for the High Commission, speaking on Wednesday, said, “We keep our immigration system under constant review to allow legal migration and legitimate travel while deterring those who may seek to abuse it.”
Highlighting the enduring relationship between both countries, the spokesperson added, “Our UK and Nigeria people-to-people links are strong and enduring, and we continue to work closely with the government of Nigeria to tackle irregular migration.”
The clarification follows a report by The Times on Tuesday, which indicated that the UK government was considering new immigration measures targeting countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The report cited high rates of visa overstays and subsequent asylum claims as driving factors.
According to the report, the UK Home Office is working on stricter visa regulations aimed at nationalities deemed more likely to remain in the UK illegally after their visa expires.
Nigerian applicants have already experienced more stringent visa conditions in recent years, including limitations on dependent visas and reduced post-study work opportunities.
These changes have contributed to a notable drop in student visa applications from Nigeria, with many now exploring alternative destinations such as the United States, despite tightening visa requirements there as well.
Figures from 2024 show a significant increase in UK visa rejections for Nigerians, with refusal rates rising from one in 31 applications in 2022 to one in eight by late 2023. Consequently, the number of UK visas issued to Nigerian nationals dropped by 63 percent over the past year.
