Nigerians Stranded In UK After Being Scammed

Some Nigerians are reportedly stranded in the United Kingdom (UK) after paying scammers posing as skilled worker visa agencies for non-existent jobs.

According to a Sky News investigation, these Nigerians paid these agencies large sums of money to enable their trip to the UK on skilled worker visas.

One of the victims, Blessing, whose name has been altered to protect her identity, told the publication on the tiny corridor of a food bank that despite being promised a job, she is currently homeless in the UK. She stated that she arrived in the UK three months ago after paying £10,000 to an “agent” in Nigeria to secure a job. When she arrived in the nation, she learned there was no work for her.

Blessing, who now relies on handouts from a Nigerian food bank, explained that she did not complete the application herself since it is impossible to distinguish between genuine and fake in Nigeria.

Read Also: “I Smuggled Myself Back Into Nigeria After Getting Stranded In Paris” – Jim Iyke

She said; “It makes me feel as though I’m a fool. I would have done it myself but there are so many frauds on the internet [in Nigeria] you don’t know what’s real.

“I’ve always provided for myself. I’m a very hard-working, diligent person. So for me to be here depending on people to eat, coming to the food bank to get food, isn’t okay with me.

“There are so many. Dozens. I met a lot here and so many are still coming after I’ve come. There’s a big scam going on.”

The founder of the Nigerian Community Center in the Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale, Mary Adekugbe, told Sky News that the recent expansion has overwhelmed her.

She said; “About 15 of the 35-40 people who generally come to the weekly food bank have skilled worker visas. We are overwhelmed, people are desperate. It’s so worrying.”

The UK government charges between £625 and £1,423 for a skilled worker visa, depending on the applicant’s location and length of stay. An annual healthcare surcharge of £624, as well as £1,270 in availability for the applicant to demonstrate their ability to maintain themselves in the UK, are also required.

Those interested must apply directly to the UK government and provide supporting documentation.

According to the UK Home Office, health and care workers accounted for 86% of long-term sponsored work visas awarded and more than half of all work visas granted to applicants in 2022.