Between June 2022 and June 2023, a total of 141,000 Nigerians migrated to the United Kingdom, according to the latest data released by UK authorities. The migration from Nigeria to the UK during this period was influenced by factors such as the unpredictable academic calendar marked by frequent and prolonged university strikes, economic challenges, and a growing sense of insecurity, prompting many to engage in "japa," a Yoruba term meaning "to flee."

The Office for National Statistics reported that in the year ending June 2023, the top five non-EU nationalities contributing to immigration flows into the UK were as follows: Indian (253,000), Nigerian (141,000), Chinese (89,000), Pakistani (55,000), and Ukrainian (35,000).

Earlier in the year, the UK government implemented changes to its immigration laws with the aim of reducing the escalating net migration.

Starting from January next year, the newly implemented policy includes a prohibition on family members accompanying foreign students for non-research postgraduate courses.

This restriction could compel many Nigerians seeking to relocate to the UK with their families to consider alternative options.

The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported an increase in the number of Nigerian nationals studying in the UK from 6,798 in 2017 to 59,053 as of December 2022, according to earlier statements this year.

As these numbers surged, the count of dependents also rose significantly; in 2019, there were 1,586 dependents, but by last year, the figure had climbed to 60,923.

The ONS clarified that the data for non-EU nationals is derived from Home Office Borders and Immigration data, while EU figures are based on data from the Registration and Population Interaction Database (RAPID), obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs. The figures for British nationals are sourced from the International Passenger Survey (IPS).

Additionally, the ONS provided a provisional estimate indicating that the total long-term immigration for the year ending June 2023 was 1.2 million, with emigration recorded at 508,000. Consequently, the net migration was calculated at 672,000. In terms of nationality, the majority of individuals arriving in the UK in the year ending June 2023 were non-EU nationals (968,000), followed by EU nationals (129,000), and British nationals (84,000).

As per the ONS, net migration for the year ending June 2023 stood at 672,000, showing a slight uptick compared to the year ending June 2022 (607,000) but a decrease from the revised estimate for the year ending December 2022 (745,000).

The ONS emphasized that it's premature to determine if this signals the commencement of a new downward trend. However, these recent estimates suggest a deceleration in immigration alongside a rise in emigration.

The ONS clarified, "Methods for measuring international migration are still evolving, and these timely estimates for the year ending June 2023 and December 2022 are provisional, relying on assumptions shaped by historical patterns." It further noted, "The uncertainty associated with these estimates will diminish in our subsequent releases as more data becomes available to confirm individuals' long-term migration status."