A recent report has brought to light an alarming trend affecting Nigerians, where an increasing number of individuals are becoming victims of a deceitful scheme.
This scheme involves paying significant sums in naira for job opportunities that, unfortunately, do not actually exist within the skilled worker visa system of the United Kingdom.
The investigative exposé, conducted by Sky News and unveiled on a Wednesday, sheds light on the distressing predicament faced by Nigerian migrants who are manipulated by “traveling agents.” These agents coerce them into paying exorbitant amounts to gain entry into the UK, only to discover that the promised employment is nonexistent upon their arrival.
The report shares the unfortunate story of a Nigerian woman who entrusted £10,000 to an “agent” in exchange for a skilled worker visa, which was meant to secure her a job as a carer in the UK. Regrettably, upon her arrival, she found herself stranded without the promised job.
This report exposes the exploitation of the skilled worker visa system, with intermediaries allegedly receiving substantial payments to arrange non-existent caregiving jobs in the UK.
Consequently, many individuals who are unable to secure jobs are facing dire circumstances, resorting to food banks and even homelessness for survival.
Mary Adekugbe, the founder of the Nigerian Community Centre in Rochdale, expresses deep concern over the growing number of individuals on skilled worker visas who require assistance. She notes that the situation has significantly increased her workload, and she finds it “shameful.”
Jones Adekube, a community volunteer, shares the plight of a homeless woman who was too shy to speak with the correspondent. He recounts that they provided her with basic food like bread and tuna, as she lacked the means to cook or warm her meals. Initially, she was given a single weekly shift of 12 hours, but eventually, the shifts ceased altogether.
The report also provides statistical insights, revealing that during the 12 months leading up to March 2023, there were 170,993 skilled worker visas granted. Notably, the health and care sector witnessed a substantial increase in grants, more than two and a half times higher, accounting for over half of all work visas issued within the same period.
