Racism or policy? Nigerian businessman’s UK visa rejection raises alarming questions
The UK Home Office is under scrutiny following allegations of racism after it refused a visa application submitted by a Nigerian security firm owner and his family.
The case has drawn public criticism and raised concerns about the UK's visa policies toward Nigerian nationals.
Samuel Onyekachi Ibeawuchi, the head of Bkay Security Ltd, along with his wife and 18-month-old child, were denied a UK visitor visa. The company has reportedly provided security services for former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, international political figures, and footballer Alex Iwobi.
What happened?
The family planned to travel to the UK for a three-week visit to see relatives. Despite presenting extensive documentation, including business credentials and assurances of financial and logistical support from family members in the UK, their visa application was rejected.
The family intended to stay with Ibeawuchi’s sister, Hope Ibeawuchi-Beales, and her husband, Nick Beales.
Ibeawuchi, his wife, and their 18-month-old child planned to visit his sister, Hope Ibeawuchi-Beales, and her husband, Nick Beales, this summer. The Beales family had pledged financial and logistical support for the trip.
Why was the visa denied?
The Home Office stated that the provided sponsorship did not prove the applicant’s intention to return to Nigeria after the visit. It also raised doubts about the legitimacy of Ibeawuchi’s self-employed income, even though he had submitted official business documentation.
Nick Beales, head of campaigning at the migrant rights group Ramfel, condemned the decision, claiming, “There’s no doubt that the UK government refused these visa applications as part of their overtly racist crackdown on Nigerians.”
Ibeawuchi responded with disappointment, stating: “I feel very bad that the Home Office refused us. We do not want to stay in the UK, just to come here to visit our family for three weeks.”
The incident surfaces at a time of heightened immigration controls, with the UK recording net migration figures of 906,000 in 2023 and 782,000 in 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently pledged tighter immigration measures, further intensifying visa scrutiny. In a speech delivered in May, he vowed to "take back control" with new rules that make it harder to obtain a visa to the United Kingdom.
African nations experience some of the highest rates of visa rejection globally. In 2024, the continent collectively incurred losses amounting to tens of millions of euros in non-refundable application fees due to denials of EU visas. Nigeria topped this list, facing a loss of €4.3 million to EU visa rejections.
