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UK Promises to Carry Nigeria Along in New Immigration Plans
The British High Commission in Nigeria has promised to work closely with the federal government once the full details of the UK’s latest immigration reforms are made public. This follows the UK government’s release of a White Paper on Monday, unveiling major changes to its immigration policies.
Some of the proposed reforms include scrapping the social care visa route, extending the path to settlement, reducing the duration of graduate visas, and introducing compulsory English tests for dependents of migrants. Though a specific date for the implementation hasn’t been announced, the British High Commission assured Nigerians that the long-standing relationship between both countries remains strong.
“The UK and Nigeria share deep and historic ties,” the Commission said in a statement. “We value the fact that many Nigerians continue to choose the UK as a place to work, study, visit, and build their lives.” It further explained that the reforms are part of efforts to bring balance, structure, and fairness to the UK’s immigration system, while also aiming to reduce net migration and support economic development.
The Commission also emphasized that these changes would not happen overnight, and stressed that the UK remains open to cooperation with Nigerian authorities as the process unfolds. This comes despite growing concern that countries with high rates of visa overstaying—Nigeria reportedly among them—could face tighter restrictions.
Despite those fears, the British High Commission maintained that the UK values its relationship with Nigeria and remains committed to being an inclusive, outward-facing country that appreciates the value of international talent and diversity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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