Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 1,425 international students who were accepted into universities in the United Kingdom were refused entry at the country's airports. Among those affected, 161 were Nigerians who were removed upon their arrival at various UK airports.

Data obtained exclusively from the UK Home Office via the Freedom of Information Act reveals that India had the highest number of impacted students, totaling 644, which accounts for 45 percent of the overall figure.

Nigeria followed with 11.3 percent, while Ghana and Bangladesh had 92 (6.46 percent) and 90 (6.32 percent) students affected, respectively.

It is important to note that the data, which spans from October 2021 to October 2023, only pertains to students denied entry at airports and does not encompass those deported by the Home Office for visa violations, such as exceeding the 20-hour work limit or engaging in academic misconduct.

The Home Office did not provide specific reasons for the removal of these foreign students.

Reports suggest that some common reasons for these decisions included the students' inability to adequately convince Border Force officers during airport checks, the submission of fraudulent documents, and insufficient proficiency in the English language.

In September 2023, Dele Olawanle, an immigration attorney based in North London, UK, expressed concern about the mistreatment of students and urged the UK Government to take action against Border Force officers who have allegedly overstepped their authority by acting as admissions officers.

Mr. Olawanle highlighted the urgent need to address this issue, citing three cases of students who sought his assistance within a short span of three hours after facing threats of removal at airports.

He wrote, “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. Sad! I have had three instructions on that in the last 24 hours.

“It is not their job because most of these students were interviewed by the university before being offered a place on the course. Most of these Border Force officers have not even been to university and are not qualified to examine these foreign students on their academic knowledge.

“I can say this as I have had dealings with them for the last 24 years. Their job is to make sure the students obtain entry clearance genuinely. If you are a student coming to start your course, be prepared for immigration officers turning themselves into university examiners.”

A data analyst, Nelly Okechukwu, shared his experience of narrowly escaping screening at an airport.

“After going through a 16-hour flight, a border officer asked for my transcript, which I presented, and this lady 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.”

Student Admissions

For the academic year 2021/2022, UK universities welcomed a total of 679,970 international students, as reported by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Among these, Nigeria accounted for the largest contingent, with 44,195 students out of 68,320 African nationals studying in the UK.

The HESA data indicates a significant increase in Nigerian students, rising to 72,355 for the 2022/2023 academic year, reflecting enrollment figures from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023.

Furthermore, an analysis by SBM Intelligence estimated that Nigerian students and their dependents contributed approximately £1.9 billion to the UK economy during the 2021/2022 academic year.

Overall, international students were responsible for a £41.9 billion contribution to the UK economy in the same period.

However, Universities UK International, the representative body for UK universities, refrained from commenting on the statistics regarding student removals.

In response to inquiries, the organization indicated that the number of immigrants on student visas who were denied entry at the border is significantly lower than those who were granted admission.

"We are not a government agency or sponsor, so we do not possess the relevant data and cannot provide commentary on this matter.

However, we would like to share the following information for context: According to Home Office data from 2021 to 2024 (ending March), a total of 1,541,837 study visas were issued to primary applicants during this timeframe.

If the figures mentioned are accurate, then those who were not allowed entry into the UK would account for less than 0.01% of all study visa holders. We are unable to discuss the reasons for refusals or the subsequent actions taken, as these depend on the individual circumstances of each case."

The Nigerians In Diaspora Commission reported that it has not received any reports from students who were denied entry at UK airports.

A spokesperson for the commission, Abdulrahman Balogun, stated that no student has ever reported being rejected at the port of entry without a valid reason.

Emmanuel Gbadega, the Director of Story Across Globe, a foreign education consulting firm, stated that foreign students or immigrants may face rejection at the port of entry if they are unable to articulate their purpose for being in the country. He noted that individuals who appear suspicious could be denied entry and sent back by the Border Force.

Gbadega remarked, “This practice has been in place for many years. If you seem suspicious, the Border Force may determine that you are not genuinely coming to study, leading to your rejection.

Students may also be turned away due to inadequate preparation or failure during an interview.”

He further explained that foreign students who are denied entry at the port can request a refund from their university by informing the institution of their situation.

In response to this issue, immigration lawyer Adeola Oyinlade urged Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM to take an interest in the expulsion of Nigerian students at international airports. He advised any student denied entry to respect the decision to avoid a potential 10-year ban.

Another immigration attorney, Dr. Yemi Opemuti, emphasized that the Border Force acted within its rights by removing the students, asserting that officers have the authority to grant or deny entry.

Opemuti clarified that possessing a visa does not guarantee entry, as customs or immigration officials can revoke a visa upon arrival.

“A visa issued in your home country is conditional and subject to the approval of customs or immigration authorities in the destination country. It can be canceled based on the migrant's responses during the entry interview.”

"They reserve the authority to refuse you entry or to deport you if you fail to provide satisfactory answers to their questions," he stated.

The UK Home Affairs and the British High Commission in Nigeria did not reply to the inquiries sent via email by our correspondent on August 14.

There has been a significant decrease in the number of Nigerians traveling to the UK for educational purposes due to the ban on dependents accompanying student visa holders, a policy that was implemented in January 2024.

Additionally, the devaluation of the naira has led to a higher exchange rate, diminishing the financial capacity of many Nigerians to fund their own or their children's education in the UK.