Between 2021 and 2023, more than 1,425 international students who were admitted to universities in the United Kingdom were denied entry at the country’s airports.
Among these, 161 were Nigerians who were removed upon arrival, according to data obtained from the UK Home Office through the Freedom of Information Act.
The data, covering the period from October 2021 to October 2023, shows that students from India were the most affected, with 644 denied entry, making up 45% of the total. Nigeria followed with 161 students, accounting for 11.3%. Ghana was third with 92 students (6.46%), and Bangladesh was fourth with 90 students (6.32%).
The released data is limited to students who were denied entry at airports and does not include those deported by the Home Office for violations such as working beyond the allowed 20 hours per week or academic malpractice.
The Home Office did not specify the reasons for the denials, but sources indicate that common causes include failure to convince Border Force officers during checks, presentation of forged documents, and poor English language skills.
Dele Olawanle, an immigration lawyer based in North London, criticized the treatment of students and called on the UK government to address the actions of Border Force officers, whom he accused of acting like university admissions officers. Olawanle noted that students are often questioned about their courses upon arrival, and failure to answer correctly can result in visa cancellations and removal from the UK.
He argued that this is beyond the remit of border officers, whose job is to ensure that students have genuine entry clearance.
Nelly Okechukwu, a data analyst, shared his experience of narrowly avoiding removal after a 16-hour flight when a border officer began questioning him about a course he studied at university in 2012.
In the 2021/2022 academic year, a total of 679,970 foreign students were admitted to UK universities, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Nigeria had the highest number of African students, with 44,195 out of the 68,320 African citizens studying in the UK during that period. This number rose to 72,355 Nigerian students in the 2022/2023 academic year.
Nigerian students and their dependents contributed an estimated £1.9 billion to the UK economy in the 2021/2022 academic year, according to SBM Intelligence. Overall, international students contributed £41.9 billion to the UK economy during the same period.
Universities UK International, the umbrella body for UK universities, declined to comment on the data but noted that the number of students denied entry is a small fraction compared to those admitted. The organization highlighted that Home Office data from 2021 to 2024 shows that 1,541,837 study visas were granted to main applicants, with less than 0.01% of those on study visas being denied entry.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission reported that no students have lodged complaints about being unjustly denied entry at UK airports. Abdulrahman Balogun, a spokesperson for the commission, stated, “No student has ever reported being rejected at the port of entry for no just cause.”
Emmanuel Gbadega, Director of the foreign education consulting firm Story Across Globe, explained that a student could be denied entry if they appear suspicious or cannot adequately explain their purpose in the country. Gbadega advised that students who are removed could seek a refund from their university.
Immigration lawyer Adeola Oyinlade urged Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to address the removal of Nigerian students at UK airports. He also recommended that students comply with any entry denial to avoid a potential 10-year ban.
Another immigration lawyer, Dr. Yemi Opemuti, clarified that Border Force officers have the authority to approve or deny entry into the UK, even if a student has a valid visa. He emphasized that a visa is conditional and subject to approval by immigration officers at the port of entry.
The UK Home Affairs and the British High Commission in Nigeria did not respond to inquiries regarding these cases.
There has been a notable decline in the number of Nigerians going to the UK to study due to a policy banning dependents of student visa holders, which took effect in January 2024. Additionally, the devaluation of the naira has weakened the financial capacity of many Nigerians to afford education in the UK.
