The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has provided an explanation for the UK government’s decision to ban international students from bringing their family members with them starting in 2024.
The new policy, aimed at curbing migration, will no longer allow Nigerians and other foreign nationals on study visas to bring in their families.
Recall that the United Kingdom announced on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 that foreign students will not be allowed to bring their families spouses, children, and parents to the country.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the restrictions will take place from January 2024.
Explaining why the ban is necessary, Richard Montgomery cited the need to alleviate pressure on the country’s housing infrastructure and control the influx of migrants as the reasons behind the decision.
He stated, “Many more students are trying to bring their dependents with them, but it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of our existing student population. We’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK.”
The British High Commissioner made these remarks after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
This meeting followed Montgomery’s submission of his letter of Credence to former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 18, after assuming his role as the new British diplomat to Nigeria.
Previously, the UK Home Office had announced that international students, including Nigerians, would be prevented from switching from the student visa route to a work visa until they had completed their studies.
The decision to ban family members from accompanying international students has elicited mixed reactions from international students, educational institutions, and some British lawmakers.
Critics argue that the regulation could exacerbate labour shortages in critical sectors like healthcare and undermine the country’s reputation as a top destination for international talent.
Addressing questions from State House Correspondents, the British High Commissioner elaborated on the regulation.
He stated, “I think there are two issues here. The first is that it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of our existing student population. And second, reasonable people would accept that we have to manage our visitor numbers and we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK, just as the Nigerian government would do.”
Montgomery disclosed that the number of Nigerian students in the UK had increased fivefold in the last three years, with Nigerians accounting for 10% of the annual UK visa grants. He emphasized the influx of Nigerian visitors, constituting over 10% of people coming to London and the UK, is a remarkable success story for British universities.
Nigerian visitors constitute over 10 percent of the people coming to London and the UK. Its a fantastic success story for our universities. And we are really delighted that so many Nigerians are coming to the UK, Montgomery remarked.
During his discussions with Vice President Shettima, the British High Commissioner acknowledged the positive reception of the Bola Tinubu administration’s current policy direction by UK investors.
As I discussed with His Excellency, the big economic decisions being taken by this government are really important and are being noticed around the world: the removal of subsidy, the exchange rate reform, all of that create a much better investment environment.
I was in London last week; I was briefing my ministers, but I was also talking to British business in finance, banking and investment sectors. They are all responding very positively to these first decisions, Montgomery stated.
Furthermore, the discussions between Montgomery and Shettima touched upon areas where the British government could aid mitigate the effects of discontinuing petroleum subsidies, which have resulted in challenging economic conditions for Nigerians.
Montgomery expressed his belief that these reforms would contribute to Nigeria’s higher growth trajectory, attract more investments, and present significant opportunities for the United Kingdom and the City of London. He pledged to contribute to enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.