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Panic in Nigerian Community Abroad! UK Ends Work Sponsorship on Over 100 Occupations
Thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or Skilled Worker visas are gripped by anxiety following new immigration rules unveiled by the British government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
As part of efforts to tighten immigration controls, the UK has removed over 100 jobs from CoS eligibility—including many skilled roles—while also raising salary thresholds by at least 30 percent for several others.
Under the new policy, only positions listed on a freshly created Temporary Shortage Occupation List remain eligible at lower skill levels. Previously approved roles at RQF Levels 3–5 have largely been scrapped.
Among the delisted roles are:
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Managers and proprietors in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and logistics (SOC 1211–1258),
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Health and welfare professionals such as dispensing opticians, pharmaceutical technicians, youth and community workers, and counsellors (SOC 3211–3224),
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Protective service roles like police officers (sergeant and below), fire service officers, and prison officers (SOC 3312–3314),
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Creative and performing arts professionals, including artists, authors, translators, actors, dancers, photographers, and interior/fashion designers (SOC 3411–3429), among others.
The changes, which took effect on July 22, 2025, apply to visa routes such as the Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas, reshaping requirements for employers and foreign workers alike.
The general salary threshold for Skilled Workers has been raised to £41,700 or higher depending on the role, while the threshold for health and care positions remains at £25,600—but employers must now prove this figure is the employee’s net salary after deductions for housing, transport, or other costs.
Saturday PUNCH learned that entry-level IT, customer service, and other lower‑skilled roles once eligible under CoS no longer qualify unless employers significantly increase pay to meet the new standards. Additionally, the minimum skill level has been raised to Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree), effectively cutting out many administrative, support, and supervisory roles previously accepted at Levels 3–5.
These sweeping changes have sent shockwaves through the Nigerian community in the UK. Kayode Alabi, Chief Executive Officer of Phika Travels and Tours, explained that many Nigerians holding CoS visas in the now‑delisted categories may find themselves stranded once their current sponsorships—lasting between one and five years—expire.
“No Nigerians have been sacked because of the new regulations,” Alabi said, “but at the end of their current sponsorship, those whose jobs are no longer eligible will not be able to secure a new sponsorship, meaning their visas cannot be renewed. Without a valid visa, you become an illegal immigrant.”
Even those in still‑eligible roles face uncertainty, as their employers must now meet the higher salary thresholds:
“By the time that sponsorship expires, will your company be able to pay the new salary threshold? That is the issue,” Alabi noted.
He confirmed that the new rules have sparked widespread fear:
“Yes, there is panic. People are unsure what their fate will be once their sponsorships run out, especially with tougher eligibility criteria and pay demands.”
Many affected Nigerians are now contemplating the painful prospect of returning home. Banjo Fola, a Nigerian resident in the UK, told Saturday PUNCH that he and many others have been directly impacted by the new regulations.
Latest News
Betrayal Exposed? Faction Demands Police Probe Into Fraudulent Leadership Claims Sent To INEC!.
The legal firm Ogbeide Associates, representing a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, requesting a formal investigation into PDP secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Key aspects of the petition include:
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Allegations of False Representation: The petition challenges a November 3, 2025, letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which falsely claimed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had replaced acting national chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum with Mohammed.
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Contradictory NWC Records: Petitioners assert that the NWC’s November 1, 2025, emergency meeting actually resulted in the suspension of Anyanwu and three other officers due to alleged anti-party activities, and no record exists to support the claim that Damagum was suspended or Mohammed appointed.
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Legal Precedents: The lawyers referenced an October 10, 2024, Federal High Court judgment that recognizes Damagum as the acting national chairman and prohibits INEC from accepting documents without his signature. Furthermore, they noted that the Court of Appeal upheld the NWC’s suspension of Anyanwu on March 9, 2026.
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Call for Institutional Review: The petitioners have requested that the IGP investigate how INEC processed the contested November 3 letter despite being aware of the existing court orders and the NWC’s official resolutions.
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Stated Objective: Counsel for the petitioner emphasized that the action is intended to address the integrity of public institutions and prevent the use of misleading internal party documentation, noting their readiness to provide supporting court judgments and party records to the police.
Latest News
The Drama Of 2026! Turkey Goes Home Fighting While Ivory Coast And Australia Advance to Knockouts!
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Turkey vs. USA: Despite Turkey securing a dramatic 3-2 victory—their first World Cup win since 2002—they were eliminated from the tournament. The USA, despite the loss, qualified for the Round of 32 and is set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 2.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Ivory Coast’s Historic Qualification: Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history after defeating Curacao 2-0, with Nicolas Pepe scoring both goals. This result secured them second place in Group E with six points.
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Australia and Paraguay: Australia qualified for the Round of 32 as Group D runners-up following a 0-0 draw with Paraguay. Paraguay’s result keeps them in contention to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
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Sweden and Japan: Sweden earned a 1-1 draw against Japan, with Anthony Elanga’s strike securing them a spot in the knockout stage as one of the best third-place finishers. Japan advanced as the runners-up of Group F.
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Netherlands vs. Tunisia: The Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1, confirming their position at the top of Group F. The Dutch will face Morocco in the next round, while Tunisia was eliminated after failing to earn a point in their three group matches.
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Latest News
Police Declare War On ‘Keyboard Warriors’! Threaten Crackdown On Spreaders Of Fake Security News!.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued a stern warning to media professionals, social media users, and the general public, advising against the dissemination of unverified information that could jeopardize national security and active operations by security agencies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Need for Discretion: Force Public Relations Officer, Iniedu Anietie Okokon, emphasized that the sensitivity of security operations requires restraint and discretion rather than the sharing of misleading or unverified details.
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Operational Silence: Okokon stated that he prefers maintaining “operational silence” to prevent the spread of false information.
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Criticism of “Keyboard Warriors”: The spokesperson criticized “keyboard warriors” for commenting on complex security matters without understanding the realities of tactical deployments and strategic operations.
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Impact on Security: Such uninformed commentary can distort public perception and undermine efforts to combat crime.
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Media Responsibility: Okokon urged journalists and content creators to act responsibly and avoid allowing their platforms to be used to propagate subversive ideologies or dissident narratives.
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Call for Verification: Given the rapid spread of unverified information online, the police have reaffirmed their commitment to public safety and urged all Nigerians to verify facts before sharing them.
The Force further noted that many critics fail to acknowledge the daily sacrifices made by police officers in their mission to safeguard citizens’ lives and property.
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