The British High Commission in Nigeria has forcefully rejected swirling media reports about alleged new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians, declaring categorically that no such clampdown exists.
This sharp rebuttal comes after inflammatory claims—first published in The Times—suggested an imminent crackdown specifically targeting Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, nations whose citizens allegedly have higher rates of visa overstays that later morph into asylum applications.
“Our UK and Nigeria people-to-people links are strong and enduring,” a High Commission spokesperson emphasised, dismissing the notion of any targeted restrictions. The diplomatic office stressed that while they continuously scrutinise immigration protocols, this represents standard procedure rather than any discriminatory pivot against specific nationalities.
The original report had alleged that the Home Office was compiling intelligence profiles to identify and restrict certain nationals from accessing work and study visas—a claim that sparked immediate concern across Nigerian communities.
“We keep our immigration system under constant review to allow legal migration and legitimate travel, while deterring those who may seek to abuse it,” the High Commission clarified, firmly rejecting any suggestion of new barriers specifically aimed at Nigerian travellers.
The controversy erupts amid broader UK government rhetoric about fixing what officials have termed a “broken immigration system,” with an upcoming Immigration White Paper promised to deliver comprehensive reforms. However, the High Commission’s intervention makes clear that no nationality-specific restrictions targeting Nigerians have been implemented.
The diplomatic office reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to maintaining the robust relationship with Nigeria while acknowledging their joint responsibility in addressing unauthorised migration channels that undermine legitimate travel pathways.
