By Chico Mies The UK government is preparing to restrict visa access for nationals from countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as part of a wider crackdown aimed at curbing visa overstaying and asylum abuse. According to reports, individuals from these countries may soon find it harder to obtain work or study visas. The Home Office claims the move targets those who legally enter the UK but later switch to claiming asylum, potentially staying permanently if granted. The department’s forthcoming Immigration White Paper will outline sweeping reforms to address what officials call a “broken immigration system.” Although the Home Office hasn’t published exit data since 2020, ministers argue that undocumented overstayers pose a challenge to the system’s integrity. Critics, however, including Professor Jonathan Portes, suggest that the actual impact on asylum figures could be minimal, saying the effort appears more about optics than meaningful change. Prime Minister Keir Starm...
By Chico Mies Nyesom Wike responded on Saturday to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, characterizing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election as a habitual loser . Atiku criticized Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, regarding the recent local government elections in the state. The Action Peoples Party (APP) secured 22 out of the 23 local government chairmanship positions in this election, which Atiku interpreted as an indication of Wike's lack of support from the populace. However, in response, Wike pointed out that Atiku, having run as the PDP candidate in the presidential elections of 2019 and 2023 and faced defeat, has similarly been rejected by the Nigerian electorate. “ We have never participated in local government elections. Did we contest the Rivers Local Government election? Did we submit a nomination form? I have heard Atiku Abubakar claim, "Oh, they have rejected me in R...