From 2021 to 2023, a total of 1,425 international students were denied entry upon arrival at UK airports, with 161 Nigerians among those affected, according to data from the UK Home Office.
The information, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, places Nigeria second on the list of countries with the most denied students, following India, which had 644 students, accounting for 45% of the total.
Ghana and Bangladesh also featured prominently, with 92 and 90 students, respectively.
The data, covering October 2021 to October 2023, focuses solely on students denied entry at the border and does not account for those deported for violating visa conditions, such as exceeding work limits or engaging in academic malpractice.
The UK Home Office has not specified the reasons for these denials, but sources indicate that inadequate responses to border officers’ questions, forged documents, and insufficient English proficiency are among the factors.
North London-based immigration lawyer Dele Olawanle has criticized the actions of UK Border Force officers, accusing them of acting beyond their remit by interrogating students on academic subjects at the point of entry.
Olawanle revealed that within a short span, he received multiple inquiries for assistance from students facing deportation threats.
He contended that such assessments should be left to university officials and noted, “Most of these Border Force officers have not even been to university and are not qualified to examine these foreign students on their academic knowledge.”
His concerns are echoed by students like Nelly Okechukwu, a data analyst, who recounted his experience of rigorous questioning by a border officer after a 16-hour flight. The officer asked him to discuss a course he had completed more than a decade earlier.
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Despite the heightened scrutiny, the influx of Nigerian students to the UK remains substantial. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reports that 44,195 Nigerian students were enrolled in UK universities for the 2021/2022 academic year, out of 68,320 African students.
The number surged to 72,355 in the 2022/2023 academic year. Nigerian students and their dependents contributed an estimated £1.9 billion to the UK economy in one year, highlighting the significant financial impact of this demographic.
While the Nigerian community has expressed concerns, the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has stated it has not received reports of unjust entry denials. However, Emmanuel Gbadega, Director of foreign education consulting firm Story Across Globe, noted that entry can be refused if a student fails to clearly articulate their purpose or appears suspicious.
He advised affected students to notify their universities to seek refunds if denied entry.
Experts like immigration lawyer Adeola Oyinlade have called on Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM to take a proactive stance on these incidents. Oyinlade cautioned students to respect UK immigration decisions to avoid further penalties, such as a potential ten-year ban.
Another immigration lawyer, Yemi Opemuti, supported the actions of the Border Force, emphasizing that visa issuance does not guarantee entry and that immigration officers have the authority to revoke visas at their discretion.
Amid these challenges, there has been a noted decline in the number of Nigerians seeking education in the UK, attributed to the recent ban on dependents accompanying student visa holders, which took effect in January 2024.
Additionally, the devaluation of the naira and the resulting rise in exchange rates have financially strained many Nigerian families, further discouraging them from pursuing education in the UK.
As these regulatory and economic challenges mount, the Nigerian student community and immigration stakeholders continue to seek clarity and fair treatment at UK borders, aiming to ensure that legitimate educational pursuits are not hindered by arbitrary or overly stringent entry controls.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
