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“Nigerian Prison Officers’ Futures Secured As UK Grants Urgent Visa Relief”.
The United Kingdom Government has granted emergency visa extensions to hundreds of foreign prison staff, the majority of whom are Nigerians, in response to concerns over a looming staffing crisis in UK prisons.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The BBC reported on Friday that the decision followed warnings that several correctional facilities were facing severe staff shortages after changes to visa regulations introduced in July.
The exemption applies only to applicants already residing in the UK and will remain in effect until the end of 2026. A reduced salary threshold of £33,400 will continue to apply to affected workers until December 31, 2027.
Under the revised immigration rules, the UK government raised the skilled worker visa salary threshold to £41,700 annually. However, the average starting salary for new prison officers outside London is about £33,000, rendering many overseas recruits ineligible under the new rules.
The Prison Officers Association had warned that the increase in the salary threshold could result in the loss of over 2,500 overseas recruits, describing the potential impact as “catastrophic” for the stability of the prison system.
Welcoming the visa exemption, the union described it as a victory for “common sense.” General Secretary Steve Gillan stated, “It might not be perfect, but it will mean the prison service can hopefully remain stable.”
The association’s national chairman, Mark Fairhurst, added that the move brought relief to officers affected by the policy change, saying, “Our members can now go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country.”
The BBC reported that The Times revealed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initially opposed the exemption, arguing that recruitment of British citizens should take priority.
However, Justice Secretary David Lammy reportedly told MPs that he had been in discussions with Mahmood, emphasizing that while local recruitment is important, ensuring sufficient staffing to meet immediate prison needs was the top priority.
A Home Office source told the BBC that prisons were treated differently because of their critical role in public safety and national security, noting that Mahmood intended the exemption to be temporary.
A Ministry of Justice source explained that the prison system was under strain and that the visa extension would provide “breathing space” to implement a plan to recruit more UK-based officers.
A government spokesperson highlighted that, while net migration had fallen significantly under the current administration, public safety remains paramount. “Net migration has already fallen by more than two-thirds under this government. However, public safety is the first duty of any government, and we must ensure prisons continue to operate safely with the right level of experienced staff,” the spokesperson said.
Nigerians dominate overseas recruitment
Since 2023, UK prisons have been allowed to sponsor visa applications for overseas recruits due to a shortage of British applicants.
According to the BBC, over 700 Nigerians were recruited into UK prisons last year, representing 29 per cent of applicants and 12 per cent of staff hired in England and Wales. Nigerians remain the most common nationality after Britons to apply for or secure prison positions, followed by Ghanaians, who received approximately 140 job offers in 2024.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has urged voters across the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Uzodinma warned that ongoing development projects in the region could be discontinued if Tinubu fails to secure a second term in office.
He made the appeal on Monday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The governor encouraged residents of the South-East to participate actively in the forthcoming election by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting for Tinubu.
He stressed that their participation would play a significant role in determining the country’s political direction.
Uzodinma also referenced an address delivered by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, during the rally, in which he presented a charter of needs outlining the expectations of the South-East and Nigerians generally.
According to the Imo governor, the demands and expectations highlighted by Nwifuru should guide the people’s decisions as they prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
He said, “I saw the governor of Ebonyi State in his address. He read what is called the Charter of Needs for the people, for South-East people, and indeed for Nigeria.
“Our responsibility will start from now to go and look for our PVC. That is the weapon, because if President Tinubu is not re-elected, all these ongoing projects will stop. So we have to sharpen our weapon, and our weapon is our voter card.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Tanzania have encountered disruptions in their preparations for Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo following reported changes to their flight schedules.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle arrived in Uyo in the early hours of Monday and was later joined by one of his assistants, Daniel Ogunmodede. However, the team was yet to commence full training as the invited players had not arrived at the camp.
Sources in Uyo told Punch that no Super Eagles player had arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport as of Monday evening, despite team officials waiting at the airport throughout the day.
One of the sources said: “We were at the airport from morning until evening on Monday, and none of the players arrived. When the last flight of the day landed, we checked the manifest, but no player was on board.”
Tanzania also experienced a delay in its travel arrangements. The Taifa Stars, who were initially expected to arrive in Uyo on Monday, were rescheduled to land on Tuesday following changes to their flight schedule.
The East African side have endured a difficult start to their Group L campaign, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau before settling for a 1-1 draw against Madagascar.
However, Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. This leaves only one available qualification spot in Group L.
Guinea-Bissau currently top the group, while Nigeria sit in second position with three points from two matches.
The Super Eagles began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
Chelle will be hoping to assemble his squad as quickly as possible ahead of the double-header, with Nigeria needing maximum points to improve their chances of securing the group’s remaining qualification ticket.
The coach announced a 24-man squad on Saturday but will be without striker Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of the encounter due to injury. The Galatasaray forward also missed Nigeria’s previous two qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September.
Other players invited include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo; defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Frederick; midfielders Tochukwu Nnadi and Samson Tijani; and forwards Moses Usor and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Turkey-based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene are also part of the squad.
The campaign spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed confidence that his principal will appear on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okonkwo accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making efforts to prevent Atiku from contesting the election, insisting that the party’s alleged attempts would ultimately fail.
He drew a comparison with the 2007 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly made efforts to stop Atiku, who was then his vice president, from contesting the presidency.
Naija News reports that the actor-turned-politician maintained that the APC would suffer the same outcome as Obasanjo, who failed to prevent Atiku from participating in the 2007 election.
Okonkwo also predicted that Atiku would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.
In a post shared on X, he said the APC’s alleged attempts to frustrate Atiku’s ambition had strengthened his belief in the ADC candidate’s chances.
He wrote:
“The more the incompetent and corrupt APC tackles ADC, and the more they try to block Atiku Abubakar from contesting for the post of President in 2027, the more I am convinced that Atiku Abubakar is the next President of Nigeria because you do not cast a stone at a tree that is not bearing any fruit.
“APC should learn from history, and understand that Atiku is unstoppable. President Olusegun Obasanjo did everything possible, with all the powers of the security apparatus, to stop Atiku, his Vice President, from contesting the 2007 presidential election, but failed.
“Atiku succeeded through the rule of law by ventilating his agitation through the courts. This time around in 2027, Atiku will win again because God and the people of Nigeria are on his side.
“Let me reiterate, Atiku and ADC will be on the ballot in 2027 and will win the 2027 presidential election for the security and welfare of Nigerians.
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