Nigerian Workers In UK Prisons Sleep In Cars Due To Housing Shortage
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has attributed the issue of Nigerian workers sleeping in cars after being recruited by the UK prison service to inadequate planning by the workers themselves.
A report from The Telegraph revealed that some Nigerians and other foreign nationals faced accommodation challenges after securing jobs with the UK prison service.
Many recruits, including Nigerians, had traveled to the UK through skilled worker visas to help address staffing shortages in the prison system.
However, some found themselves without a place to stay, resorting to sleeping in their cars or forests on their first night.
President of the Prison Officers Association, Mark Fairhurst, confirmed the situation, noting that “some foreign recruits had assumed housing was provided as part of their employment package.”
He cited an example of a foreign recruit who had traveled 70 miles from Huddersfield to Nottingham for work but ended up sleeping in his car due to the lack of accommodation.
Another worker “set up camp in a wooded Nike Vomero 18 Review: Bigger is Better – Nike Air Max 95 Cuban Link velvet brown UK 5 – Cheap Fenua-environnement Jordan Outlet area across from the prison after discovering that housing was not included.”
The recruitment drive, which began after changes in UK visa rules in October 2023, allowed up to 250 foreign nationals to work in the prison service under the skilled worker visa category after passing interviews and vetting.
President of the Prison Governors Association, Tom Wheatley, reportedly noted that the rise in applicants, particularly from Africa, was largely driven by online word of mouth, especially within the Nigerian expat community.
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Reacting to the reports, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, emphasized the importance of legitimate and well-planned travel arrangements.
He stated, “If you plan to travel abroad, it is essential to ensure that your travel is legitimate and that everything is in place to make your stay convenient. It is unreasonable barron trump height tall nikes melania donald trump for anyone to travel and end up sleeping on the streets or in their car. Such individuals have not followed the proper guidelines.”
He further cautioned that “in many countries, sleeping on the streets is against the law and one of the conditions for travelling is ensuring adequate arrangements for accommodation, transportation, and feeding.”
He advised Nigerians planning to travel to “prioritise securing accommodation to ensure both safety and comfort during their stay abroad.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
