UK Extends Nigerian Officers’ Visas To Avert Prison Collapse.

The UK government has approved temporary visa extensions for hundreds of foreign prison officers, most of whom are Nigerians, following concerns that their departure could severely disrupt the prison system.

The move followed alerts that several prisons were grappling with serious manpower shortages after visa rules were revised in July. The special concession applies strictly to officers already in the UK and will remain valid until the end of 2026. Under the arrangement, a lower salary threshold of £33,400 will continue to apply until December 31, 2027.

Recent immigration changes raised the skilled worker visa salary requirement to £41,700 per year, a figure well above the average starting salary of new prison officers, which is about £33,000 outside London. This sparked fears that thousands of overseas prison staff could face removal.

The Prison Officers Association had warned that the policy risked forcing more than 2,500 foreign officers out of service, describing the situation as potentially devastating for prison stability. The union welcomed the exemption, calling it a decision rooted in common sense.

Its General Secretary, Steve Gillan, said the step would help preserve order within the prison service, while the association’s national chairman, Mark Fairhurst, said affected officers could now carry on with their work without anxiety over deportation.

Reports indicated that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood initially opposed the exemption, arguing that recruitment efforts should prioritise British citizens. However, talks between her and the Justice Secretary focused on balancing longer-term local recruitment with the urgent need to maintain prison operations.

Home Office sources explained that prisons were treated as a special case because of their importance to public safety and national security, stressing that the exemption was intended as a short-term measure. The Ministry of Justice also acknowledged mounting pressure on the prison system, noting that the extension would provide time to strengthen UK-based recruitment.

A government spokesperson said net migration had dropped significantly under the current administration but emphasised that keeping prisons safe and functional remained a core responsibility.

Since 2023, prisons in the UK have been allowed to sponsor overseas workers due to a shortage of domestic applicants. Records showed that more than 700 Nigerians were recruited into UK prisons last year, accounting for nearly 29 per cent of applicants and 12 per cent of new hires in England and Wales, making Nigerians the second most represented nationality after Britons. Ghanaians followed with around 140 offers.