Why 161 Nigerian Students were Denied Entry to the UK Despite University Admissions
Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 1,425 international students were refused entry at UK airports, with 161 of these being Nigerian students.Â
Data obtained from the UK Home Office via the Freedom of Information Act reveals that India had the highest number of students denied entry, totaling 644, while Nigeria was the second most affected with 161 cases, accounting for 11.3% of the total. Ghana and Bangladesh followed with 92 (6.46%) and 90 (6.32%) students, respectively.
The data, which spans from October 2021 to October 2023, only includes students turned away at the airport and does not cover those deported later by the Home Office for visa violations such as exceeding work hour limits or academic misconduct. Specific reasons for these rejections were not detailed in the data provided.
An immigration lawyer in North London, Dele Olawanle, criticized the conduct of UK Border Force officers, who he claims have overstepped their role by questioning students about their courses and canceling visas based on their responses. Olawanle described several instances where students faced threats of removal upon arrival and called for more oversight of the Border Force.
Nelly Okechukwu, a data analyst who nearly faced removal, recounted an incident where a border officer questioned him extensively about his academic history, despite having graduated years earlier.
For the 2021/2022 academic year, UK universities admitted 679,970 international students. Nigeria led with 44,195 students out of 68,320 African students. By the 2022/2023 academic year, the number of Nigerian students had increased to 72,355. Nigerian students and their dependents were estimated to contribute £1.9 billion to the UK economy in the 2021/2022 academic year.
Universities UK International declined to comment on the specifics of student removals but indicated that the number of students turned away at the border is relatively small compared to those admitted.
