Abuja, Nigeria – The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has clarified that the recent decision by the United Kingdom (UK) to restrict foreign students from bringing their dependents starting in 2024 is not specifically aimed at Nigerians. The measure is instead intended to safeguard the UK’s infrastructure, as there has been a significant surge in the number of students bringing their families from all around the world in recent years.
During a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, Montgomery acknowledged that the number of Nigerian students going to the UK had increased fivefold over the past three years, aligning with the overall global trend of growing international student enrollment.
Delighted to call on HE @KashimSM to discuss 🇳🇬🇬🇧 partnership. Applauded big decisions on reforms. Puts Nigeria on a higher growth path for jobs & incomes. Great potential to enhance our work on development, trade & investment, defence & security. Lots of ideas to take forward. pic.twitter.com/VTOpy2wPLR
— Richard Montgomery (@RMontgomeryUK) June 21, 2023While this increase is considered a “fantastic success story for our universities,” Montgomery emphasized that it has become challenging to accommodate the high number of individuals arriving in the UK with their families due to limited housing and services.
The decision to restrict the entry of dependents for foreign students was announced by the UK Home Office in May, with the aim of preventing individuals from using student visas as a backdoor channel to work in the country.
Regarding the meeting with the Vice President, Montgomery revealed that migration between Nigeria and the UK was not discussed. However, he sought to provide a broader context to the ongoing media debate surrounding the issue.
Montgomery stated, “Last year (2022), for example, the UK granted three million new visas, of which 325,000 were issued to Nigerians. Nigerian visitors constitute over 10 percent of the people coming to London and the UK.”
He further explained, “The number of Nigerian students coming to the UK has increased fivefold in the last three years. It’s a fantastic success story for our universities, and we are really delighted that so many Nigerians are coming to the UK.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima receives the @UKinNigeria High Commissioner. pic.twitter.com/mn4UmKf9DV
— NTA News (@NTANewsNow) June 21, 2023In addressing the restrictions on dependents, Montgomery highlighted two key concerns. Firstly, the challenge of meeting the housing and service needs of the existing student population, and secondly, the necessity to manage migration flows in and out of the UK, similar to the measures implemented by the Nigerian Government.
The decision to restrict dependents from accompanying foreign students is part of the UK’s effort to strike a balance between maintaining the quality of education and managing migration effectively. The goal is to ensure that the country’s infrastructure can adequately support the increasing number of international students while maintaining the integrity of the student visa system.
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