Nigerian students in the United Kingdom are scrambling for legal options to remain in the country as their student visas near expiration, following a fresh warning from the UK government.
In an emergency notice last Sunday, London revealed that about 10,000 international students had been contacted to leave after their visas lapsed. The move comes amid a surge in asylum claims, which tripled in the past year and accounted for 37% of all applications.
Students made up the largest group of asylum seekers at 40%, ahead of work visa holders (29%) and visitors (24%).
The government has launched a direct messaging campaign reminding students to leave once their visas expire. A message sent to affected students warned that asylum claims without merit would be “swiftly and robustly refused” and overstayers risked deportation.
UK universities hosted 732,285 overseas students in the 2023/24 session, with Nigeria ranked third among source countries at 34,500 students. However, new restrictions, including the reduction of the post-study work visa from two years to 18 months, have unsettled many.
Several Nigerian students told Sunday PUNCH that they were panicking and rushing to switch to skilled worker visas. A PhD student in Scotland said, “If you cannot get a certificate of sponsorship from an employer, and your visa expires, you automatically become an illegal immigrant.”
A postgraduate at the University of Salford, now on a skilled worker visa valid until 2028, described the situation as “devastating” for students who invested heavily in UK education. Others said they had no intention of returning to Nigeria due to economic hardship and insecurity at home.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) cautioned citizens to avoid overstaying, warning that doing so is a criminal offence.
Experts remain divided. Education consultant Tolani Jaiyeola said the UK’s action reflects its push to cut net migration but criticised the delivery of the warning. Prof. Anthony Kola-Olusanya of Osun State University described the approach as exploitative, while University of Ibadan’s Prof. Francis Egbokhare insisted visa compliance was non-negotiable.
University of Lagos don, Prof. Bayo Oladipo, added that the burden lies on Nigeria to fix its internal problems so that students can willingly return home after studying abroad.
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