Nigerians stranded in UK after paying agents for skilled worker visa

Nigerians has been left stranded in the United Kingdom after paying agents huge amounts of money for job opportunity that do not actually exist.

A Nigerian woman, Blessing, whose name has been changed to protect her identity has narrated how she ended up begging for food in the UK.

She told the UK broadcaster, Sky News that she was scammed by an agent to whom she paid £10,000 (N11.6 million) for a skilled worker visa.

According to her, her life were shattered after she discovered the promised job do not exist.

Blessing said, “It makes me feel as though I’m a fool,” Sky News quoted her as saying. “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 ok 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.”

Report showed “how the skilled worker visa system is being abused, with middlemen allegedly being paid huge sums of money to arrange jobs in the UK as carers that do not exist. Many of those who can’t get work are struggling to survive, turning to food banks and even sleeping rough.”

The founder of the Nigerian Community Centre in Rochdale, Mary Adekugbe, says those on skilled worker visas now needing support is a big issue that is increasing her workload.

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.”

Also, a community volunteer, Jones Adekube, lamented the situation of another homeless lady who was too shy to speak with the correspondent.

“Last week we gave her bread and tuna because that’s what she can eat easily without cooking or warming.

“She did some work when she came in. Initially, they gave her one shift a week, which is 12 hours a week. As time went on, there were no shifts,” he said.

Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwe
Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwehttp://wakadaily.com
Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwe is the Co-founder and CEO of Wakadaily News. With a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), she brings a wealth of leadership and strategic expertise to the platform. Chinyere is passionate about delivering high-quality, engaging news that informs and empowers audiences. Her vision for Wakadaily is to create a space where reliable, diverse, and impactful content connects people and fosters informed conversations.

Popular Related

Court summons five for defaming Mercy Chinwo, husband

In wuse, Zone 2 Abuja, in a Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Emmanuel Iyanna has called for five social media users “criminal defamation”...

Vote buying had done more evil than good, resist it – Diaspora groups 

Ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, the Nigerians in the Diaspora have called on Nigerian youths to resist any form of vote buying,...

Buhari leaving Nigeria better than he met it – Ganduje

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Kano State governor, said president Muhammadu Buhari is leaving the country far better than when he resumed office in 2015. Ganduje...

Shortlisted candidates for the Nigeria Police recruitment moves to next stage

According to a statement released by the Police Service Commission on Saturday, 171, 956 qualified candidates from the screening phase of the ongoing police...

INEC tenders documents to back Kogi governorship election

The electoral documents has been tenderd by the independent National Electoral Commission, against the Social Democratic Party and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka at the...

Kaduna State university allows students sit exams despite unpaid fees

The Kaduna State University has declared that students facing financial difficulties will be allowed to sit exams regardless of the outstanding school fees for...

Nwoko wants Senate to probe sacking of 317 CBN workers

Ned Nwoko,the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, has slammed the recent mass termination of the employment of more than 317 employees of the...

Rivers Assembly passes law to prevent Fubara from appointing LG caretakers

Governor Siminalayi Fubara's objection was overturned by the Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, bringing the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into...

Buhari mourns ex-CGS, Oladipo Diya

President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the passing of former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. General Oladipo Diya, who served as Vice Chairman of...

Ekiti varsity asks female students, staff to remain indoor

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) management has issued a safety advisory, directing all female staff and students on the Ikole-Ekiti campus to stay indoors...