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Nigerians risk deportation as UK scraps sponsorship for over 100 skilled jobs

Published

8 months ago

July 26, 2025

Panic has gripped thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas over the new regulations announced by the British government.

The UK government, in its efforts to control immigration, has removed over 100 jobs, including skilled worker roles, from CoS eligibility, while the salary thresholds for other jobs on the scheme have also been increased by at least 30 per cent.

The government removed lower-skilled roles (previously at RQF Level 3–5) from CoS eligibility unless they appear on a newly created Temporary Shortage Occupation List.

Some of the delisted jobs include managers and proprietors in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics (SOC 1211–1258); health, community and welfare roles such as dispensing opticians, pharmaceutical technicians, youth and community workers, and counsellors (SOC 3211–3224); protective service roles like police officers (sergeant and below), fire service officers, and prison officers (SOC 3312–3314); as well as creative and performing arts professionals, including artists, authors, translators, actors, dancers, photographers, and interior or fashion designers (SOC 3411–3429), among others.

The regulations, which took effect on July 22, 2025, affect various visa routes, including the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, along with the requirements for sponsoring foreign workers.

The new regulations increased the general Skilled Worker salary threshold to £41,700 or higher depending on the role, while health and care roles remained at £25,600.

However, employers in health and care roles must show the salary after all deductions, including accommodation or transport, meaning that the £25,600 is the minimum amount to be received by any of their employees after all deductions.

Many roles previously eligible for the CoS, such as entry-level IT and customer service, no longer qualify unless employers raise pay substantially in line with the new regulations.

The UK government has also increased the minimum skill level to Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree level), while the previously eligible Level 3–5 roles (some admin, technical support, care supervisors) may now be excluded.

Findings revealed that the new regulations have sent jitters down the spine of thousands of Nigerians who are clearly going to be affected by the new rules.

Explaining the new regulations, a UK-based travel agent, Kayode Alabi, said Nigerians and other nationals on CoS visas secured with the delisted jobs might be stranded at the end of the expiration of their agreement with their sponsors.

Alabi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Phika Travels and Tours, said the affected individuals would not be able to renew their visas upon completion of their current sponsorship, which he said usually lasts between one and five years.

He said, “No Nigerians have been sacked because of the new regulations, but their fate will hang in the balance because at the end of their current sponsorship, those whose jobs have been removed from CoS eligibility will not be able to find a new job in that category, and their visa will not be renewed. If you don’t have a valid visa, you become an illegal immigrant.

“Another challenge those whose jobs were retained under the new regulations will face is that their employers may not be able to pay the new salary threshold, which has risen to £41,700 from £24,000, £25,000 or £26,000 per annum.

“If you are not on any of the delisted job roles, you will still be earning the salary you were earning when you received sponsorship, which is usually between one and five years. By the time that sponsorship expires, will your company be able to pay the new salary threshold? That is the issue.”

He confirmed that many Nigerians were already panicking as a result of the new rules.

“We can say there is panic among our people. Yes, there is. People don’t know what will become their fate at the expiration of their sponsorship, especially when the eligibility criteria for other jobs have been increased. People are afraid,” he said.

Our correspondents gathered that the fear of returning home has gripped affected Nigerians.

A Nigerian in the UK, Banjo Fola, confirmed to Saturday PUNCH that many Nigerians, including himself, were affected by the new regulations.

Fola, who didn’t disclose his job, said, “My visa with this current job will expire in some months, and my employer has said he cannot afford the new salary threshold. It is very hard. I don’t even know what to do.”

Another Nigerian on a CoS visa in the country, who requested anonymity, expressed fear that she might return home at the expiration of her sponsorship next month because of the new rules.

Also, a Nigerian caregiver in the United Kingdom raised concerns over the recent changes to the UK’s Skilled Worker visa scheme, revealing that she may be forced to return home due to the new salary threshold and job delisting.

She said, “My sponsorship will expire in August, and the new regulation has made it impossible to get a new job because of the salary threshold. I may likely return home.”

Expressing similar fears, another Nigerian who spoke on condition of anonymity said he and many others were unsure of their future in the UK.

“Things are not easy. The new rules have cut short our plans to stay longer here. But our current jobs have been removed, meaning that we will be jobless in the next one year. I came here (UK) in February 2023 on a Certificate of Sponsorship. My sponsorship is for three years, so I have less than a year to find another job, which is not even there because of the new salary threshold,” he said.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, Mr Sulaimon Okewole, said over 10,000 Nigerians might be forced to return home as a result of the new rules.

He said it was disheartening that the regulations were affecting many Nigerians who had made long-term career plans in the UK.

Okewole said, “While the UK government’s goal of reducing net migration is understandable, the impact on Nigerians, a community known for its immense contribution to the UK’s workforce, demands some discussions.

“The most immediate concern is the sharp rise in salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas. For many Nigerians, especially those in sectors like healthcare and IT, this could mean fewer job offers unless UK employers adjust pay scales. This may be a tough task in an economy already dealing with inflation.”

He added that professionals who previously saw the UK as a viable destination may now find their options limited unless they secure roles that meet the higher salary bands.

“It is no doubt that over 10,000 Nigerians will be affected by this new regulation, as they will probably return home or find another destination,” he said.

He also predicted that more Nigerians seeking foreign employment would likely begin exploring opportunities in other countries, as the UK becomes increasingly unfavourable.

A student of the University of Ibadan, Eniola, whose mother works as a caregiver in the UK, also expressed concern.

She said her mother was already grappling with the implications of the new regulation.

“She has practically lost her job because the sponsorship will come to an end in November. She has been there since 2023. She informed me that her job has been delisted, and she is not sure she will find a fresh sponsor or new job. I can tell from our conversation that she is afraid,” Eniola said.

According to data from the UK Home Office, 10,245 Nigerians were issued Skilled Worker visas in 2021. That figure dropped slightly to 8,491 in 2022, before rising to 26,715 in 2023.

However, for 2024, recent data shows that work visa grants for Nigerians are beginning to decline, with fewer Health and Care Worker visas issued in the first half of the year compared to 2023.

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Tinubu holds security meeting with service chiefs, IG

Published

13 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a nearly two-hour security meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking the first of such gathering since Tunji Disu assumed office as Inspector-General of Police.

Our correspondent observed that the security chiefs, who arrived at the Villa without their usual official vehicles, making identification difficult, departed the premises at approximately 5:10pm after extensive deliberations with the President.

The service chiefs and the IG were identified by our correspondent as they left the forecourt following the closed-door meeting.

The session comes amid heightened security concerns across the country, particularly the recent killings of military commanding officers in various theatres of operation.

In the past week alone, the military lost at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operating bases following a surge in attacks on security formations and personnel, especially in the North-East where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents have intensified assaults on military positions.

Notable among recent incidents was the attack on Ngoshe in Borno State, which resulted in abductions, as well as separate assaults on Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, all in Borno State.

The attacks prompted responses from both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who vowed to deploy overwhelming force to end the insurgency.

During an Iftar dinner with service chiefs on March 6, President Tinubu had assured the military of his administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism despite the Borno attacks.

“Nigeria will defeat terrorism despite these attacks. We will not bow to insurgents,” the President had stated.

Vice President Shettima, in a statement signed by his spokesman Stanley Nkwocha, declared that the administration would end the insurgency with overwhelming force.

The Thursday security meeting is Disu’s first formal engagement with the President and service chiefs since his appointment as IGP on February 28, 2026, following the resignation of his predecessor.

As of the time of filing this report, details of the discussions at the security meeting had not been disclosed to the media.

However, PUNCH Online understands the meeting likely addressed the recent spike in attacks on security personnel, vulnerable communities in the North-East, and coordination among security agencies.

In a separate development, President Tinubu on Thursday summoned the Director-General of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Dr Olubunmi Kuku, for the second time in one week.

Our correspondent spotted the FAAN DG entering the Villa premises while the security meeting with service chiefs was still in session on Thursday afternoon.

The summons comes barely a week after the President suspended the cashless payment system at airport toll gates nationwide following widespread gridlock that caused passengers to miss flights.

On Wednesday, March 5, Kuku had met with the President hours after the suspension was announced, arriving at the Villa at approximately 5:45pm in the company of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had announced after the Federal Executive Council meeting that President Tinubu directed the immediate suspension of the cashless system following complaints about traffic congestion at Lagos and Abuja airports.

“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were losing their flights, missing their flights.

“So Mr. President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock,” Keyamo had stated.

The President directed the ministry to engage private sector participants to develop a more efficient payment system that eliminates cash without causing gridlock.

Thursday’s meeting with the FAAN DG may be connected to progress on implementing the hybrid system that allows both cash payments and prepaid cards while a permanent solution is developed.

FAAN, as the operator of toll gates and collection points at airports nationwide, is central to implementing any revised payment system.

The cashless system was designed to replace a cash collection practice of over 50 years that had been prone to fraud and under-remittance of revenues to the federal government.

As of the time of filing this report, the FAAN DG was still at the President’s office.

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NiMet lists Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi as high-risk states for meningitis

Published

13 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has issued a public health alert warning residents of several northern states about the heightened risk of Cerebrospinal Meningitis.

NiMET issued the warning in a statement on its official X account on Thursday, highlighting the need for vigilance and prompt action to prevent the spread of the potentially life-threatening infection.

According to NiMET, Cerebrospinal Meningitis is a serious infection affecting the brain and spinal cord, commonly caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.

It spreads through respiratory droplets, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated places.

The agency further noted that the disease can progress rapidly and may become life-threatening within hours if untreated.

However, early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic treatment greatly improve survival and reduce complications.

The alert categorised states by risk levels, with the highest risk observed in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno.

Residents of central states were advised to exercise moderate vigilance, while Plateau, Oyo, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, and Enugu were considered low vigilance areas.

NiMET also highlighted the groups most vulnerable to the infection, explaining that “children and young adults, people living in overcrowded settings, individuals exposed to dry, dusty environments, and persons with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.”

The agency emphasised early recognition of symptoms as key to preventing fatalities, listing sudden high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea or vomiting, and sensitivity to light as warning signs.

To reduce the risk of infection, NiMET encouraged the public to “Get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, avoid overcrowding, and seek early medical care. Vaccination, it said, is one of the most effective ways to prevent meningitis.

“Good hygiene, such as regular handwashing and avoiding the sharing of personal items, can also help reduce transmission, while ensuring good ventilation in homes, schools, and public spaces is important to limit exposure.”

Residents were urged to “Watch for symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, and seek prompt medical attention if any occur.”

The agency concluded with a call for community participation in health awareness campaigns, stating that following public health guidance and staying informed can protect both individuals and the wider community.

“Protect yourself and your community. Early awareness, vaccination, and prompt treatment save lives,” NiMET added.

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UK announces road closures, no-fly zones for Tinubu’s state visit

Published

13 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Britain will impose airspace restrictions and deploy armed police officers in Windsor next week as President Bola Tinubu arrives for a state visit hosted by King Charles III.

Tinubu is expected to begin the visit in the company of his wife Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday, March 18, with a reception at Windsor Castle.

Thames Valley Police in a statement on its website on Wednesday, said it is working with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household and other security partners.

The force said airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle, which are in place permanently throughout the year, would be extended on Wednesday, March 18, to cover the period from 7am to 11.59pm.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Unit said the air restrictions formed part of a broader security operation for the visit.

“The air restrictions are just one part of our robust security operation for the state visit of Nigerian President Tinubu next week, with many measures you will see and others you will not..

“As a force, we have a vast amount of experience in policing Royal events in Windsor and significant planning, and preparation has gone into this event,” Hall said.

He said the force would take a strong stance in enforcing the restrictions, warning that any breach would constitute a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could lead to arrest.

“We will be taking a strong stance in enforcing the restrictions; anyone who breaches them will be committing a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could be arrested.”

The police chief said officers with specialist capabilities, including search teams, the Mounted Section, road policing, and armed units, would be deployed across Windsor, alongside neighbourhood policing and Project Servator resources.

“We will also be deploying numerous police officers to Windsor with specialist capabilities, including our search teams, Mounted Section, Roads Policing and armed units, while our neighbourhood and Project Servator resources will also be on the ground engaging with the public,” he said.

The authorities will also deploy an extensive closed-circuit television network, hostile vehicle mitigation barriers, and other undisclosed security measures for the event.

Hall said, “We will also be using the extensive CCTV network in Windsor, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barriers, and many other security measures that you may not be able to see to make sure the event runs safely.”

He urged members of the public to support the security operation by remaining vigilant.

“The public plays a critical role to support us so we encourage them to report any suspicious activity or anything that does not seem quite right by calling 101 or speaking to one of our officers. If there is an immediate threat or emergency, then call 999,” Hall added.

Road closures and parking restrictions will take effect from Tuesday, March 17, with possible temporary disruption to roads in and around Windsor during the visit.

Thames Valley Police said it was being supported by the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the flight restrictions. Persons with legitimate reasons for drone flying were directed to email TVPAirspaceRequests@thamesvalley.police.uk.

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