UK denied 1.34 million Nigerian visa applications between 2005 and Q1 2026
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
The United Kingdom rejected 1,344,595 Nigerian visa applications from 2005 to the first quarter of 2026, according to official Home Office data. This places Nigeria second globally in total visa refusals, behind India, and accounts for 44.4 percent of all UK visa rejections from Africa during this period. Over the 21 years, the UK granted 2,723,558 visas to Nigerians, making it the third-highest total issued to any nationality worldwide, after India and China. Nigeria was the largest recipient of UK entry clearance visas in Africa. The cumulative refusal rate for Nigerians was 33.1 percent, more than double the UK’s global average of 14.8 percent. Visitor visas dominated both grants and rejections, with 1,127,088 83.8 percent of refused Nigerian applications falling into this category, at a 37.1 percent refusal rate. Study visa rejections totaled 130,712 20.5 percent rate and work visa rejections were 41,410 16 percent rate. The period with the highest refusal rate was the mid-2000s, reaching 49.6 percent in 2006. The refusal rate improved to 21 percent in 2023, following a post-pandemic surge that led to a record 281,658 visa grants to Nigerians. However, the acceptance rate did not last, as the UK raised the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas and restricted dependent visa rights in April 2024, leading to a 68 percent fall in Nigerian work visa applications in 2024. In 2024, 77,706 Nigerians were refused at a 33.5 percent rate, and in 2025, 77,571 were refused
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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc's corporate employee share acquisition vehicle has purchased over 1.23 million ordinary shares from the Nigerian Exchange Limited. The transaction, valued at approximately N921.8 million, was executed across multiple trading tranches on June 19, 2026. This move aims to deepen employee asset ownership and align staff interests with corporate financial goals. Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary of MTN Nigeria, confirmed that the purchase is a structured layout under the group’s public operational guidelines and involves the MTNN Employee Share Acquisition scheme, a related party to the issuer. The acquisition was structured across five distinct tranches to navigate market liquidity and maximize price entry points, with a volume-weighted average price of N747.42 per share. Market analysts suggest that such large-scale insider purchases by employee schemes typically provide strong psychological support for public equities, signaling internal confidence in the company’s long-term commercial balance sheet and revenue sustainability. The transactions were carried out under the Legal Entity Identifier 0292003626J3K6UG9D04.
Odu'a Investment Company Limited, owned by six South-West states, aims to achieve N1 trillion in total assets by 2030 through its "30 by 2030" growth strategy, also known as SRC 2.0 2026–2030. The company announced a Profit Before Tax of N23.58 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, as stated by former Chairman Bimbo Ashiru during the 44th Annual General Meeting in Ibadan. Revenue for 2025 grew by 78 percent to N20.22 billion, up from N11.34 billion in 2024. The profit before tax saw a 410 percent increase from N4.62 billion in the previous year, primarily due to N18.81 billion in fair value gains on investment properties and a strong performance in the Nigerian stock market. Agusto & Co. upgraded Odu'a Investment's credit rating from 'A+' to 'Aa-' with a stable outlook. The redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan is expected to begin full operations in the fourth quarter of 2026. Group Managing Director Abdulrahman Yinusa noted that the company is seeking its first foreign credit rating to access international debt capital markets and attract foreign direct investment. He also presented the company's first fully consolidated financial statements. New Chairman Tola Kasali committed to actualizing SRC 2.0 and ensuring continued economic development and social impact for the South-West region.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC is preparing to appeal a Federal High Court ruling that nullified its registration, following marathon strategy meetings involving its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and national leader, Seriake Dickson. The ruling, issued by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside an earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to register the NDC. This decision has heightened political tensions, with opposition leaders suggesting it aims to weaken opposition forces before the 2027 general election. NDC officials, including National Secretary Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday, June 30, 2026. Enekweizu described the Lokoja judgment as unprecedented and lacking legal foundation, expressing confidence that the party would win on appeal. He asserted that all NDC candidates, including presidential candidate Peter Obi, would be on the ballot for the upcoming elections. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, met with Seriake Dickson in Abuja, stating that no temporary setback would weaken the NDC. He expressed confidence in the party's ability to overcome legal challenges and appealed to members not to be discouraged. The court's decision to set aside the earlier judgment was based on the finding that it was delivered without hearing all affected parties, particularly the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the disputed par