UK Denies 161 Nigerian Students Entry as Country Tightens Border Controls

Between 2021 and 2023, more than 1,425 international students who had gained admission to universities in the United Kingdom were denied entry upon arrival at UK airports.

Among those affected were 161 Nigerians, whose visas were revoked at the point of entry, preventing them from starting their courses in the UK.

This has raised significant concerns among education stakeholders and immigration experts about the conduct of border authorities and the increasing hurdles faced by foreign students.

According to data obtained from the UK Home Office via the Freedom of Information Act, Indian students were the most affected, accounting for 644 removals, which represents 45 per cent of the total.

Nigerian students were the second most affected group, with 161 removals, equating to 11.3 per cent, followed by Ghana with 92 (6.46 per cent), and Bangladesh with 90 (6.32 per cent).

The data, spanning from October 2021 to October 2023, only includes students denied entry at UK airports and does not account for those deported by the Home Office for other reasons, such as working beyond the 20-hour weekly limit on student visas or academic malpractice.

The UK Home Office did not provide specific reasons for these removals.

However, sources indicate that several factors may contribute to such decisions, including students’ inability to satisfactorily answer questions posed by Border Force officers, the presentation of forged documents, or perceived deficiencies in English language proficiency.

In many instances, Border Force officers have been accused of exceeding their roles by questioning students on academic details better left to university admissions.

One vocal critic, Dele Olawanle, an immigration lawyer based in North London, has highlighted the treatment of these students, describing it as unjust.

In a social media post in September 2023, Olawanle lamented that within just three hours, he had been contacted by three students facing imminent removal at UK airports.

He criticised Border Force officers for acting as if they were university examiners, questioning students on course-specific details that they were due to study.

“UK border officers have turned themselves into university officials at the point of entry by questioning students entering the UK to start their course on some aspects of the course they are going to start.

If they do not answer correctly, they have their visas cancelled, and some are removed from the UK,” he wrote.

Olawanle argued that it is not the job of Border Force officers to assess the academic knowledge of students, especially since these students had already been vetted and admitted by UK universities.

His criticisms reflect broader concerns that border authorities are overstepping their mandate, causing undue stress and disruption for students who have already endured lengthy visa application processes and long flights to reach the UK.

One data analyst, Nelly Okechukwu, shared a personal experience of narrowly escaping removal.

After a 16-hour flight, he was questioned by a border officer who asked for his university transcript and began quizzing him about a course he had studied over a decade earlier.

“A border officer asked for my transcript, which I presented, and then started asking me to tell her about a course I studied in my 200-level in the university. A university I graduated from since 2012,” he recounted.

The influx of international students into the UK remains substantial.

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) indicates that 679,970 foreign students were admitted to UK universities during the 2021/2022 academic year.

Of these, Nigeria had the highest representation from Africa, with 44,195 Nigerian students among the 68,320 African students in the UK that year. This number rose significantly to 72,355 Nigerian students in the 2022/2023 academic year.

Nigerian students and their dependents contribute significantly to the UK economy, with estimates suggesting they added £1.9 billion in one year alone, highlighting the economic importance of these students.

However, the increase in visa denials and stricter scrutiny at UK borders have had a chilling effect on Nigerian students considering studying abroad.

Emmanuel Gbadega, Director of the education consulting firm Story Across Globe, noted that students might be turned away at the port of entry if they cannot adequately explain their purpose in the UK or if they appear suspicious.

“You can be rejected by the Border Force when you look suspicious; probably they find out that you are not coming to study,” Gbadega explained.

He advised students to be well-prepared for potential interviews at the border to avoid unnecessary complications.

The UK Home Office and the British High Commission in Nigeria have not responded to requests for clarification on the reasons behind these denials.

Meanwhile, the impact of the recent UK policy banning student visa holders from bringing dependents, combined with the devaluation of the naira, has further strained the capacity of Nigerians to pursue education in the UK.

As the UK tightens its immigration policies, Nigerian students and their families face increasing uncertainty and financial pressure in their quest for quality education abroad.

Despite the challenges, immigration lawyers like Adeola Oyinlade urge Nigerian students to comply with UK immigration rules to avoid further complications, including long-term bans.

The evolving landscape of UK immigration underscores the need for clear communication and better support for international students navigating these complex processes.