Marriage troubles: Nigerians in UK decry ‘weekly’ visa cancellations

Some Nigerians in the United Kingdom have decried increased revocation of their countrymen’s visas after spouses report them to the authorities over disagreements.

Couples who left Nigeria for the UK in search of greener pastures are said to be capitalising on previous offences to haunt their spouses.

Women, in particular, are accused of reporting their dependent husbands and fiancés to the British Home Office to terminate their visas.

Many of such women have, however, cited repeated domestic abuse for their actions.

Though not a new phenomenon, a former president of the Nigerian community in the UK, Benjamin Kuti, also known as Oluomo of Derby, said there had been a surge in recent times.

According to him, the abnormalities are so common now that the stories of the cancellation of partners’ visas come out weekly.

The former leader enjoined people engaging in such to have a rethink, describing such an act as “pure wickedness.”

“I just need to rant about something that’s becoming way too common in the Nigerian community, and honestly, it needs to stop.

“Every other week, we’re hearing stories of people cancelling their partner’s visa just because the relationship ended. Like, why? Yes, things may not have worked out. Yes, emotions are high, but destroying someone’s life out of spite? That’s pure wickedness. Remember the good times. Remember that this person once meant something to you. Reporting them to the Home Office or revoking their stay isn’t justice, it’s cruelty. We need to do better as a community. Love didn’t work, fine but let’s not turn bitterness into a weapon,” Kuti wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

Kuti added the screenshot of a message he claimed was received from the Home Office by a victim.

The message read, “Your permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a dependant on the Skilled Worker Route has been cancelled, so that it now ends on 3rd January 2026. What this means for you.

You still have permission until 3rd January 2026, and the current conditions of your stay will continue to apply until then. Please ensure…”

A legal practitioner, Dele Olawanle, described the situation as an “epidemic.”

“You don’t want to know what I deal with on a daily basis. It has become an epidemic even when they have children together. Apart from that, they are also calling the police on themselves and trying to get the other person a criminal record. It is so sad,” Olawanle said.

An influencer, Agba Jon Doe, claimed a woman dumped her man after he spent nearly N19m to bring her to the UK.

He wrote, “10,000 pounds is almost N19m. That’s what a man spent on his wife to bring her to the UK. This is plus the wedding expenses and other bills. She forgot about all those sacrifices. She didn’t even want to stay in the marriage to support him and his health. All gone down the drain.”

Many community members also testified that partners were orchestrating prison terms for those with whom they once exchanged marital vows.

A career adviser, Osinachi Nuel, wrote, “A lot happening and not making it to the media sha. Some dey prison sef and their partners dey code am. I know of 2 cases, and they keep lying that their partners are away from the UK. I think it’s okay to part ways and not reporting them to the Home Office.”

Corroborating this, one Uchenna Da, said he was a victim.

“I have had my own share of this cruelty! I don’t even wish it for my enemy. Got ynacked off! But God said No! I pray God comes through for men/women in this situation. Bitterness Kills,” he wrote.

Several others also shared their experiences, with one Samuel Ojukwu, saying Nigerian couples “fight dirty when things fail.”

“Everyone is looking for a way to implicit pain on the other. Sad reality.”(Punch)