THE United Kingdom Office for National Statistics has said that approximately 52,000 Nigerians migrated to the United Kingdom in 2024, placing Nigeria among the leading sources of non-EU+ migration to the UK during the year.
The UK Office revealed this in its 2024 migrants journey report released late Thursday, estimating a net migration at “431,000, down from 860,000 in the previous year.”
It revealed that Nigeria joined India, Pakistan, and China as one of the leading contributors to non-EU+ migration to the UK.
The ICIR reports that the latest influx occurred despite a sharp drop in overall net migration to the UK, which fell by nearly 50 percent in the year ending December 2024.
The ONS noted that 27,000 Nigerian migrants arrived in the UK on work-related visas, 22,000 on study visas, and the remaining 3,000 under other immigration categories.
“Work and study-related immigration were the primary reasons for migration among Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian nationals,” the ONS report stated.
The report also revealed that 83 percent of non-EU+ migrants were of working age (16–64 years), with males making up 52 per cent and females 48 per cent. Children under 16 made up 16 per cent of migrants, while only one per cent migrants were over the age of 65.
It said that many people who arrived during or after the COVID-19 pandemic had since returned to their home countries, especially those who came on study visas.
Work-related immigration among primary applicants experienced the largest numerical decline, dropping by 108,000, a 49 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.
While study-related immigration declined by 17 per cent, the number of study dependents fell by 86 per cent, the most significant drop recorded.
The report shows that although immigration from countries like Nigeria remained significant, the overall drop in migration was largely due to a decrease in work and study visa arrivals, particularly from non-EU+ countries and a rise in emigration.
The ICIR reported that the United Kingdom was set to introduce new and tighter visa access for citizens of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, citing concerns over high rates of visa overstays and a surge in asylum applications from these countries.
The Home Office said it was preparing to introduce stricter immigration policies targeting nationalities identified as having a greater likelihood of remaining in the country beyond the terms of their visas.
The UK authorities said that the proposed restrictions were prompted by a trend of individuals entering the country on work or study visas and subsequently applying for asylum.
The Home Office announced in April that 43 failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders were returned on a charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, as the government stepped up international collaboration to secure borders.
The ICIR reported that data from 2024 revealed a sharp rise in UK visa rejections for Nigerians, with the rejection rate increasing from one in 31 applications in 2022 to one in eight by late 2023.
The UK government announced a rise in visa fees for students, tourists, and other travellers.
The Home Office also said that the student visa fee had increased from £363 to £490, reflecting a 35 per cent rise.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.