Headline
Japa: 5 Countries With Highest Visa Rejection Rate
Published
8 months agoon
By
Editor
Traveling to the Schengen area from non-EU countries comes with the requirement of obtaining a visa, and for many Nigerians, navigating the visa application process can feel like walking a tightrope.
While the Schengen Area comprises 27 member countries, each with its own approach to visa approvals, not all embassies are created equal. Some are far more stringent than others.
According to data from Schengen Visa Info, countries that receive fewer applications often have higher rejection rates, leaving many travelers in limbo, unsure of their chances of success.
This unpredictability has caused frustration for Nigerians seeking access to Europe, whether for business, education, or tourism.
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In 2023, a few countries gained notoriety for their particularly high rejection rates, making them the ones to watch if you’re planning your next European adventure. Securing a visa to these destinations may just be more difficult than anticipated.
Malta
Malta had the highest rejection rate among all Schengen nations in 2023. Out of 33,306 visa applications, 12,261 (37.6%) were denied. Algerian applicants faced the most rejections, with an overwhelming 90.35% rejection rate. Ghanaian and Moroccan applicants were also heavily affected, with rejection rates of 62.69% and 60.37%, respectively.
Estonia
Estonia rejected 61.4% of the Schengen visa applications it received in 2023, amounting to 4,347 denials. Egyptian applicants were hit hardest, with a 59.5% rejection rate. UAE and Indian nationals also faced significant hurdles, with rejection rates of 57.9% and 49.7%, respectively. In contrast, Chinese applicants saw a much lower rejection rate of just 7.3%.
Belgium
With a rejection rate of 26.6%, Belgium ranked third in Schengen visa denials. Out of 225,951 applications, 60,148 were rejected. Senegalese applicants faced the highest rejection rates at 67.8%, followed by Angolan (66.44%) and Nigerian (62.45%) nationals.
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Sweden
Sweden rejected 23.1% of its visa applications in 2023, denying around 60,148 requests. Iranian nationals were the most affected, with a rejection rate of 76.65%. Pakistanis and Lebanese applicants followed, with rejection rates of 69.49% and 66.21%, respectively.
Denmark
Denmark received 107,872 visa applications in 2023 and rejected 21.2% of them (21,509 applications). Moroccans faced a 100% rejection rate, though only two applications were submitted. Iranians and Pakistanis were again among the most affected, with rejection rates of 76.65% and 69.49%, respectively.
These statistics highlight the varying degrees of difficulty travelers face when applying for Schengen visas, with Malta, Estonia, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark proving to be the toughest countries for visa approvals in 2023.
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Headline
Nigerian Grandmother Sacked By UK Varsity Over Misplaced Bracelet
Published
5 hours agoon
June 6, 2025By
Editor
A 71-year-old Nigerian grandmother, Janet Olufunke Damiro, has been dismissed from her cleaning job at the London School of Economics after being accused of stealing a bracelet.
British tabloid newspaper, Metro UK, exclusively reports on Thursday that Damiro, who moved to the United Kingdom from Nigeria in 1971 and had worked at LSE for 13 years, said she simply forgot the gold bracelet in her purse after finding it during her shift and intending to hand it in later.
She returned it three days later when questioned by management, but was still suspended and eventually dismissed in April for gross misconduct.
Damiro said, “I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life.
READ ALSO:Family Kicks As UK Varsity Sacks Nigerian Grandmother
“LSE have treated me really badly. It was my only job, and I loved working there. I never expected to be suspended or dismissed.
“I did not steal this thing. If I see any items, I always hand them over.
“This is the first time in my life I have had a problem like this since I came to this country. It is really bugging me.”
Metro reports that more than 70 of her colleagues, including three supervisors, have written to LSE management in her defence, insisting on her honesty and professionalism.
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“Janet has always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic,” their letter read.
Her trade union, United Voices of the World, in a post on its website last month, appealed the dismissal and criticised the university’s handling of the situation.
Speaking with UVW, Damiro said, “I don’t steal. I’m not a thief. I’ve worked at LSE for over 10 years without any problems. I just forgot. At my age, you can forget like that.
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“They look at me like I’m a thief. It’s unfair. I’ve not been myself at all, I don’t sleep at night. I don’t have a job now, but I have to pay my rent and bills. Who’s going to employ me at this age?”
According to Metro, the university has declined to comment publicly, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Meanwhile, LSE students have launched a petition calling for her reinstatement, describing the punishment as “deeply disturbing” for what they believe was a “minor mistake.”
An appeal hearing initially scheduled for May 22 was adjourned, and a new date has been set for later in June.
Headline
Family Kicks As UK Varsity Sacks Nigerian Grandmother
Published
5 hours agoon
June 6, 2025By
Editor
The family of Janet Damiro, a 71-year-old cleaner recently dismissed from the London School of Economics, has responded to widespread reports surrounding the incident, describing the online and media narratives as misleading and lacking critical context.
The victim’s daughter, Aina Damiro, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, clarified the events that led to her mother’s dismissal, stating that the situation has been “blown out of proportion.”
According to her, the incident occurred in February during the final minutes of Janet’s morning shift when she found a bracelet on the floor.
She reportedly picked it up with the intention of handing it in but inadvertently forgot.
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She said that the bracelet was left untouched in her coin wallet, which remained in her locker at the university.
“When approached about the bracelet a few days later, she was honest and cooperative.
“She retrieved it immediately and explained what had happened. There was no denial or attempt to hide it,” she said.
The family insists this was a case of forgetfulness rather than theft or misconduct, stressing that Janet had served the institution faithfully for years.
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They argued that the university’s decision to terminate her employment was a disproportionate response lacking empathy, especially for an older worker nearing retirement.
The family said, “To see her name and image used to suggest wrongdoing is not only unfair but deeply hurtful.
“This was an innocent mistake that has been misrepresented in a way that raises questions about how older workers, particularly women of colour in lower-paid roles, are treated.”
The family stated that Janet granted the interview to the Metro UK in good faith, hoping to raise awareness, not to be vilified.
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“We hope the public and media will reconsider how they are framing this story,” the family added, urging institutions to reflect on their duty to support vulnerable and long-serving members of staff.
The London School of Economics has not issued a formal response as of press time.
The case has since sparked conversation online under hashtags such as #JusticeForJanet and #RespectElderWorkers.
Headline
Myanmar Arrests Six-year-old Girl, 15 Others Over Ex-general’s Death
Published
5 hours agoon
June 6, 2025By
Editor
Myanmar authorities have arrested 16 people including a six-year-old girl over the assassination of a retired general shot dead in Yangon last month, state media said.
A former ambassador to Cambodia, Cho Tun Aung, was gunned down outside his home on May 22 in an attack claimed by an anti-junta group calling itself the “Golden Valley Warriors”.
Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup, plunging the country into a complex, multi-sided civil war involving pro-democracy guerrillas and resurgent ethnic minority armed groups.
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Most fighting is confined to the countryside and smaller towns but grenade and gun attacks on junta-linked targets are regularly reported in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city and commercial hub.
The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said 16 members of the Golden Valley Warriors — 13 men and three females — had been arrested in various locations.
Those held include the wife and six-year-old daughter of the suspected shooter, identified as Myo Ko Ko, the state-run newspaper said, without explaining what the girl is accused of.
The report said Myo Ko Ko and another suspect rode to the general’s home on bicycles and shot him before fleeing to a safe house.
The junta has suffered significant territorial setbacks in recent months but analysts say it is far from defeat, with a powerful air force supplied with Russian jets and military backing from China.
AFP
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