THE British High Commission in Nigeria has reaffirmed commitment to facilitating legal migration and legitimate travel, even as it tries to curb immigration abuse, in the wake of speculation and uncertainty over changes to the United Kingdom (UK) visa rules.
A statement issued by a spokesman of the Commission on Wednesday, May 7, 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.
“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.”
While appreciating the public’s understanding and cooperation in addressing migration concerns, it urged Nigerians seeking more information on this matter to reach out to its Press and Public Affairs team.
It was reported on Tuesday, May 6, that the UK was considering new immigration measures that could make it harder for citizens of Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to obtain visas, citing high rates of overstays and subsequent asylum claims.
According to The Times report, the UK Home Office was preparing to introduce stricter visa policies targeting nationalities identified as having a greater likelihood of remaining in the country beyond the terms of their visas.
Nigerian applicants have in recent years faced tighter visa rules, including restrictions on bringing dependents and reduced post-study work opportunities, leading to student visa applications from Nigeria being significantly declined.
Data from 2024 revealed a sharp rise in UK visa rejections for Nigerians, with the rejection rate increasing from one in 31 applications in 2022 to one in eight by late 2023.
This has led to a 63 per cent drop in UK visas issued to Nigerians over the past year.
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