A total of 161 Nigerian students were recently denied entry into the United Kingdom after failing to pass border checks. Learn more about the reasons behind this incident and its potential impact.
Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 1,425 international students who were accepted into universities in the United Kingdom were prevented from entering the country at its airports.
161 Nigerians were impacted when they were denied entry upon arrival at UK airports.
Data acquired solely through the Freedom of Information Act from the UK Home Office reveals that India has the highest number of affected foreign students, totaling to 644 and comprising 45% percent. Nigeria follows with a percentage share of around11.3%. Ghana is listed at third place, accounting for about6.46 %of total cases (92). Bangladesh occupies fourth position with approximately six point three two per cent or 90 individuals being affected by these circumstances in their study abroad programs.
The data that has been made public, spanning from October 2021 to October 2023, pertains exclusively to students who were denied entry at the airports. It fails to take into account international students expelled by the Home Office due to visa violations like engaging in academic misconduct or exceeding their weekly work hours beyond twenty.
The reasons for the removal of the foreign students were not specified by the Home Office.
However, according to Saturday PUNCH’s sources, several factors contributed to these decisions including students’ failure to persuade Border Force officers during airport checks, submission of falsified documents and inadequacy in English language proficiency.
In September 2023, Dele Olawanle – an immigration lawyer from North London, UK – expressed dismay over the mistreatment of students. He urged the UK Government to take action against Border Force officers who appeared to have assumed the role of admission officers.
Within three hours, Olawanle received requests for help from three students who were facing the possibility of being removed at airports. He lamented this occurrence.
In his statement, the individual expressed that UK border officers have transformed into university representatives upon students’ arrival and are now asking about specific course details. If one is unable to provide accurate answers, their visa may be revoked even resulting in deportation from the country. This occurrence has happened three times within a 24-hour period causing great sadness for those affected.
These Border Force officers are not equipped to assess the academic abilities of foreign students as they did not undergo a university interview process prior to enrollment, unlike most of these students. Furthermore, given that many do not possess tertiary qualifications themselves, it is outside their professional purview.
Having had interactions with them over the past 24 years, I am confident in saying that their primary responsibility is to ensure that students acquire entry clearance through legitimate means. As a student beginning your studies, anticipate immigration officials adopting the role of university examiners.
Nelly Okechukwu, a data analyst who alleged narrowly avoiding screening at an airport, recounted his encounter.
“After enduring a 16-hour flight, a border official requested my transcript. I provided it to them and then was questioned by a woman about one of the courses I had taken during my second year at university – even though I have already graduated from that same institution in 2012.”
Admissions for students
The Higher Education Statistics Agency’s data shows that UK universities enrolled 679,970 foreign students for the academic year of 2021/2022.
For the academic year 2021/2022, Nigeria topped the list of African countries with a total of 44,195 foreign students studying in the UK out of 68,320.
According to HESA data, there was an increase in the number of Nigerian students enrolled for the 2022/2023 academic year. Specifically, a total of 72,355 students from Nigeria were recorded between August 1st, 2022 and July31st , 2023.
An analysis conducted by SBM Intelligence showed that the economy of the UK was boosted with an estimated £1.9bn contribution from Nigerian students and their dependents during the 2021/2022 academic session.
Based on the information provided, international students made a contribution of £41.9bn to the UK economy during the academic year 2021/22.
The umbrella organization for universities in the country, Universities UK International, stated that it was unable to provide a comment on student removal data.
However, in response to inquiries by Saturday PUNCH, the organization pointed out that there were far fewer immigrants on student visas who were removed at the border compared to those who were admitted.
As we are neither a government agency nor sponsor, we do not possess any information regarding this matter and hence cannot provide any comments. However, for the purpose of context, we would like to share the following points as background details:
Data from the Home Office covering 2021-2024 (with year ending in March) indicates that the number of study visas granted to main applicants during this time reached a total of 1,541,837. Based on these figures’ accuracy, those individuals denied entry would account for less than one-tenth of one percent (<0.01%) among all holders of study visas. The reasons behind refusals and subsequent outcomes are case-specific; thus we cannot provide any further commentary regarding their occurrences.
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According to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, no reports were received from students who had been deported at UK airports.
According to Abdulrahman Balogun, spokesperson for the commission, no student has ever been denied entry at the port without valid reason.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Gbadega, the Director of a foreign education consulting company called Story Across Globe, immigrants including international students could face rejection at entry ports if they are unable to provide valid reasons for their presence in the country.
According to Gbadega, Border Force has the authority to reject and deport individuals who are deemed suspicious back to their country.
According to him, the practice has been ongoing for several years. If you appear suspicious during your entry into a country, it is possible that the Border Force may refuse you access because they suspect that you are not there for educational purposes. The students’ rejection could be due to their incompetence or their inability to pass an interview.
According to Gbadega, if a foreign student is denied entry at the port of arrival, they have the option to obtain reimbursement from their university by reporting their predicament to the institution.
Adeola Oyinlade, an immigration lawyer, has called on Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM to take action regarding the expulsion of Nigerian students from foreign airports.
He advised all students who were denied entry into a foreign country to accept the decision and adhere to it in order to avoid being prohibited for 10 years.
Dr Yemi Opemuti, another immigration lawyer, stated that the Border Force acted within their rights by removing the impacted students. Furthermore, he mentioned that officers have discretion in granting or denying entry to individuals seeking admission into their nation.
Opemuti stated that possession of a visa does not ensure admittance into a country, as customs or immigration officials hold the authority to annul it at the point of entry.
Revised: Getting a visa from your country of origin comes with conditions, as it requires approval from customs or immigration officials at the destination. During an entry interview, a migrant’s response may lead to cancellation of their visa.
“If you fail to provide them with compelling answers to their inquiries, they possess the authority to refuse your entry or expel you,” he supplemented.
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Our correspondent’s email inquiries sent on August 14 to the UK Home Affairs and British High Commission in Nigeria went unanswered.
Since the implementation of a policy in January 2024 that prohibits dependents of student visa holders from entering the UK, there has been a notable decrease in Nigerian students pursuing education overseas.
The devaluation of the naira led to an elevated exchange rate, thus reducing the financial capability of numerous Nigerians in funding their education or that of their children abroad.
