Headline

Japa: Nigerians Stranded In UK After Paying ‘Agents’ Huge Money For Skilled Worker Visa

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2023

Many Nigerians are reportedly battling with joblessness and destitution in the United Kingdom after emptying their savings to pay agents who promised them employment with skilled worker visas.

The victims who spoke to Sky News said they left Nigeria in search of greener pastures with the assurance of getting jobs in the UK as promised by their agents, but the story turned out to be ugly on their arrival.

A victim who spoke to Sky News on the condition of anonymity on the narrow corridor of a food bank, said she is currently destitute in the UK despite being promised a job in Britain.

In the same vein, another lady said she arrived in the UK three months ago, after paying an “agent” in Nigeria £10,000 to arrange a job as a carer in the UK. In contrast, only to find out that the job does not exist.

According to them, they traveleld on the skilled worker visa organised by the travel agents or middlemen, and the report revealed that many of these Nigerians are struggling to survive, turning to food banks and even sleeping on the streets.

One of the destitute has found relief at a food bank in a Nigerian Community Centre in Greater Manchester where she is given a shopping bag of basic supplies.

The shelves and crates are packed with donations of bread, cereal, tinned tomatoes and familiar African items like palm oil and beans.

Narrating their ordeal, the victim said, “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.

“I don’t feel happy about it. It makes me feel I’m less of a person. I should be in a position of helping not receiving aid because this is not who I was back in my country. It makes me feel as though I’m a fool,” she said.

The victim also said she was advised not to contact the British company that sponsored her for fear of repercussions – but showed us her passport and other documents supporting her account of what happened.

She also added that she did not make the application herself, stressing, “I would have done it myself but there are so many frauds on the internet [in Nigeria] you don’t know what’s real. It makes me feel as though I’m a fool.”

Speaking on their predicament about how the skilled worker visas they banked on failed, she further said, “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.”

The founder of the Nigerian Community Centre in Rochdale, Mary Adekugbe, said those on skilled worker visas now needing support is a big issue that is increasing her workload – something she describes as “shameful”.

Adekugbe said about 15 people of nearly 40 people who generally come to the weekly food bank have skilled worker visas.

“We are overwhelmed. People are desperate. It’s so worrying. A grown-up man crying like a baby. Children crying without food because their parents can’t work to support them. No houses. No job. This is alarming,” Adekugbe added.

Headline

We’ve ‘Refrained’ From Further Strikes On Iran After Trump Call, Says Israel

Published

24 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Israel “refrained” from further strikes on Iran on Tuesday after a call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s office announced.

Trump had angrily accused both Iran and Israel of violating the ceasefire he had announced late on Monday but hours later he posted that it was now in effect.

“Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from further strikes,” a statement said.

Headline

Nine Countries With Nuclear Weapons In The World

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Since the first atomic bomb was developed in 1945, only a small number of countries have acquired nuclear weapons.

Concerns about the spread of these weapons led to the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968, which aimed to prevent further proliferation. At the time, only a few states had nuclear capabilities.

However, since then, the number has grown to nine, with North Korea being the only country to withdraw from the NPT and subsequently develop nuclear weapons.

Combined, the United States and Russia possess roughly 87 per cent of the world’s total nuclear inventory and about 83 per cent of the warheads stockpiled for military use. Of the estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide, around 9,614 are part of active military stockpiles, ready for deployment via missiles, aircraft, ships, or submarines.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), these are the nine nuclear-armed states and their estimated warhead counts:

Russia – 5,459 nuclear weapons

United States – 5,177 nuclear weapons

China – 600 nuclear weapons

France – 290 nuclear weapons

United Kingdom – 225 nuclear weapons

India – 180 nuclear weapons

Pakistan – 170 nuclear weapons

Israel – 90 nuclear weapons

North Korea – 50 nuclear weapons

Headline

FULL LIST: Nigeria Emerges As Africa’s Third Most Formidable Military Force

Published

1 day ago

June 23, 2025

Editor

Nigeria has secured the third position among African nations with the most formidable military forces in the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index, according to Global Firepower’s annual report cited by The PUNCH on Monday.

The index evaluates 145 countries based on over 60 metrics, including troop numbers, equipment capabilities, financial resources, logistical efficiency, and geographical advantages to assess military strength.

In the 2025 rankings, Egypt maintains its lead as Africa’s top military power, followed by Algeria in second place and South Africa in fourth. Nigeria’s rise to third underscores its growing military capabilities, driven by investments in personnel, equipment, and counter-terrorism efforts.

Here is a list of African countries ranked in the 2025 Global Firepower Index.

1. Egypt (19)

2. Algeria (26)

3. Nigeria (31)

4. South Africa (40)

5. Ethiopia (52)

6. Angola (56)

7. Morocco (59)

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)

9. Sudan (73)

10. Libya (76)

11. Kenya (83)