Travel News
FX for business travels soar by 366% to $672m - PUNCH
More Nigerians gained access to foreign exchange, boosting their spending on business travels by 366 per cent to $672.27m in the first nine months of 2025, up from $144.19m recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
The figures, contained in the Balance of Payments section of the December 2025 Central Bank of Nigeria’s Quarterly Statistics, showed that spending stood at $231.7m in the first quarter of 2025, rose slightly to $234.56m in the second quarter, and moderated to $205.97m in the third quarter, bringing the nine-month total to $672.27m.
In contrast, business travel expenditure was $77.33m in Q1 2024, fell to $46.62m in Q2, and further decreased to $20.24m in Q3, culminating in $144.19m for the same period.
Business travel refers to expenditures made by Nigerian residents when they travel abroad for business purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, training sessions, or other work-related activities.
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Payments linked to these trips, including for accommodation, local transport, and meals, are captured as outflows of funds in the BoP. Since money leaves Nigeria to pay for these services abroad, they show up as debits (negative entries) in the current account under services. Tickets and airfares are not included.
Data from the CBN indicate that travellers had more access to FX for business trips in the period under review. In turn, this reflected stronger international business engagement.
In separate interviews with The PUNCH, economic analysts and experts familiar with the matter explained that the development signalled renewed business confidence and improved foreign exchange stability.
The Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said the jump in travel spending reflected improved confidence in international trade and stronger economic stability.
He explained: “An increase in business travel costs is a reflection of an improvement in confidence in international trade because there is a relationship between the frequency of travel and the volume of international business, whether it is services or merchandise, there’s always a relationship. If there is no trade, there will not be travel. If there are no international transactions that require physical movement, there will not be any travel.”
Yusuf added that the trend underscored Nigeria’s growing connectivity with the global economy, stating, “This is a reflection of the wider stability and confidence that we are seeing in the economy. And this has enabled more Nigerians to travel, to meet their business partners, and vice versa. I think this figure with respect to business travel, this is what it indicates.”
CPPE’s director observed that the country’s improved foreign exchange liquidity and exchange rate stability strengthened international trade flows in 2025 compared to previous years.
He asserted that given that the dollar is stable, there’s more liquidity in the foreign exchange markets. “So that has also given a big boost to international trade and investments,” Yusuf remarked.
A former Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Prof Segun Ajibola, explained how this relationship plays into the recent figures.
Corroborating CPPE’s Yusuf, the economist noted that the increase could reflect both expanded business activities and higher travel costs.
He said, “The 366 per cent jump in expenditure could be a positive and negative development at the same time. Firstly, business travel is a cost item. It is an expense for each business organisation which could be driven by an increased level of activities, which pushes executives and others to travel purely for new business contracts, new business dealings, or by increased expansion of existing businesses, which may take them out of the country, or might involve them inviting business partners to the country at their own expense.”
The former CIBN leader added that if driven by business expansion, the rise would positively impact economic output. “It must reflect, if that is the case, it must reflect by way of enhanced business volumes, which means businesses incurring the cost. You also have higher business volumes, which will contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association, Adewale Oyerinde, said business travel spending impacts the country’s net cash outflows. He urged proportional or increased export earnings to balance the spending, which could deplete foreign reserves and widen current account deficits.
He explained, “The increased business travel prices impacting the BOP services account, which is a major part of the transaction that occurs and therefore affects the net cash outflows, could lead to depletion of foreign reserves and widening of current account deficits if not offset by a corresponding level of exports or remittances.”
Oyerinde observed that with respect to foreign exchange volatility risks, the naira remains devalued, and high prices for hotels add to the overall value to be transferred to US dollars.
He added, “Despite the Q3 2025, BOP surplus of $4.60bn, total services’ net cash outflows increased from $3.74bn last quarter, to now $4.07bn, while cash outflows associated with travel alone from Q3, now total $1.67bn, and therefore putting pressure on the external buffers with the foreign reserves now growing to $42.77bn.”
On how this improved access to FX for business travel impacts the broader economy, NECA’s DG stated that high costs lead to shrinking profit margins for companies in Nigeria.
He said, “Multinationals and exporters that depend on a global supply chain face extreme pressure due to rising hotel rates (+40 per cent in Lagos/Abuja) due to the scarcity of fuel and the unstable foreign exchange market.”
He stated that companies have two options, “either to eliminate physical travel through virtual alternatives or absorb the financial loss of high transportation inflation. Both options are likely to decrease a company’s investment capital.”
Oyerinde explained that large companies approaching significant expenditures with significant increases indicated a persistent strain on their investments.
“The continued rising cost of doing business may impact the expansion of the company or its ability to remain competitive in a high-growth Purchasing Managers Index (57.6 December 2025) but cost-compressed economy,” he concluded.
Red UK passport holders warned ahead of summer 2026 holidays - MIRROR
British holidaymakers still using old red passports are being warned ahead of summer holidays. If you're planning a sunshine escape this year, it's crucial to check your passport before departure due to strict entry requirements abroad.
Many countries demand your passport remains valid for a further six months before you set off on international travel. Known as the 'six-month validity rule', many people still holding pre-Brexit red passports may find their documents don't have sufficient time remaining.
Some countries, including all within the Schengen area, have a three-month passport requirement. This means travellers can enter these destinations if their passport remains valid for at least three additional months.
If you're still carrying a red passport it's important to check its expiry date. Since Brexit, your passport must be less than 10 years old upon arrival in the EU, with its expiry date falling at least three months beyond your planned departure from the EU.
Most people, quite reasonably, presume an adult passport lasts a decade, but if yours was issued before October 1, 2018, additional months may have been added to its expiry date if the previous passport was renewed before it completely expired.
You can check whether your passport meets the validity requirements for your journey on GOV.UK. Simply search for your destination country and select 'entry requirements', as reported by Wales Online.
Additionally, you're limited to a maximum stay of 90 days within any six-month period. During Britain's EU membership, there were no such time restrictions on stays.
Some of the countries with a six-month passport rule include the USA, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Australia, China, and Indonesia.
As China goes visa-free, Britain ties itself in knots with ETA rules - THE INDEPENDENT
Isolation is not always splendid. Five years ago this week, I awoke in the Heathrow Novotel, one of the strip of hotels north of the runways. I had checked in for the final night before this unremarkable property became a quarantine hotel – complete with security guards to ensure none of the guests made a break for it. I checked out on 15 February shortly before the first involuntary inmates from “red list” nations arrived. They paid £1,750 for an all-inclusive package: 10 nights’ accommodation, three meals a day and two Covid tests.
For almost the rest of that miserable pandemic year, travellers arriving from countries regarded as high risk were incarcerated. The system unravelled shortly before Christmas 2021. “I’ve had nine walk out on me so far,” a guard at the Gatwick Sofitel told me in mid-December. “They face a £10,000 fine, but the police aren’t interested.” MPs on the Transport Select Committee later found “no evidence” that hotel quarantine provided the slightest benefit compared with self-isolation at home. What a difference five years makes. Yesterday, Accor, parent company of Novotel, reported that revenue per available room – RevPAR, the key metric in the hotel industry – rose 4.2 per cent to €76 (£66). People seem much happier when they are free to travel where they wish.
Anticipation is a much more positive emotion than hindsight. I look forward to testing out the new visa-free access to China on a trip to Chengdu in the west of the People’s Republic next month – and hope the key local attraction, officially known as Siguniangshan Scenic Spot, is easier to enjoy than it is to pronounce.
The decision by Beijing to open up to British (and Canadian) passport holders will be transformative. Now that the barricade of red tape has been dismantled, organised cultural tours will continue in much the same way – but China will see a surge in backpackers, keen to explore a low-cost country that until this week was too tricky and expensive to consider. No hidden extras, either: on my last trip to the Chinese resort city of Qingdao, the Sea View Garden Hotel instructed guests: “Your satisfaction is the greatest praise to us, please don’t give tips to our staff.” I recall no sign like that along Isolation Row at Heathrow.
As China eases its rules for British visitors, the red tape for travellers to the UK is getting ever more tangled. From 25 February, the electronic travel authorisation will be mandatory for all travellers arriving in the United Kingdom except for British and Irish citizens. For UK dual nationals who only have a passport issued by another country, this presents a problem. They are not allowed to apply for an ETA.
Up to now, the government has insisted that only a valid British passport or a “Certificate of Entitlement” costing £589 will allow a dual citizen to be admitted. The change has caused consternation for many people who happen to have UK citizenship but whose lives – and passports – are located elsewhere. They are scrabbling to acquire the required documentation. But this morning it has emerged that airlines can accept a valid foreign passport plus a UK passport that was issued anything up to 37 years ago in lieu of a current British passport.
I advise all travellers to observe all border regulations at all times. But I suspect that some of the 1.2 million UK dual nationals estimated to be resident abroad will still travel on ETAs, even though they are not supposed to apply for them. They will bet that airlines and ferry firms – the organisations with the hapless task of enforcing the new rules – will be content with proof that the passenger possesses a valid passport and apparently legitimate ETA. In a time-pressured pre-departure environment, if the computer says “yes” when presented with the traveller's foreign passport, the transport operators will not diligently go on to investigate whether that person has British citizenship by birth or descent.
I cannot envisage any passenger being told: “You can't enter the UK because you are British.” A few transgressors may be identified on arrival when a UK Border Force officer chooses to examine their passport. But most people who decide to infringe the rules will probably get away with it by whizzing through the eGates.
Lagos int’l airport inferno grounds passengers, sparks travel chaos - PUNCH
BY Sami Tunji, Olasunkanmi Akinlotan and Princess Etuk
A fire outbreak at the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday disrupted flight operations, stranded passengers, and triggered diversions, compounding travel delays and operational uncertainty across airlines.
It was also gathered that at least six persons were hospitalised after the fire outbreak engulfed Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, forcing the diversion of international flights, damaging airport equipment, and triggering a massive multi-agency emergency response.
The incident, which began around 3:00 pm, was still being battled by firefighters as of 7:00 pm when this report was filed, with thick smoke billowing from sections of the terminal.
Five ambulances were seen evacuating injured airport users to the airport hospital as emergency responders battled to contain the blaze. Beyond the injuries recorded, several pieces of operational equipment and airline properties were destroyed in the fire.
The affected terminal, part of the airport’s older infrastructure and currently undergoing renovation, had earlier been earmarked for total remodelling following the approval of N712bn by the Federal Executive Council for its rehabilitation.
About 12 staff members were reportedly trapped inside the control tower when the incident started. They were later rescued using a construction crane. Since the fire affected control tower operations, aircraft could neither land nor take off following the incident.
Speaking at the scene, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the immediate priority was containment of the fire while investigations continue.
“In terms of investigations, absolutely. But I think what is critical is to make sure that the fire itself is controlled. Investigations are ongoing. What is important is that we activated our emergency operating procedures and got everybody out of the building with no fatality due to all of the coordination done by the agencies,” she said.
She disclosed that the airport’s Emergency Operations Centre had been activated, noting that “there is an airport manager who is the chief safety and chief security officer of the airport, and there is a standard procedure that we follow when it comes to emergencies. We have activated that procedure.”
She further explained that preliminary findings indicated the fire started from the ground floor before spreading upward. “From our investigation so far, the fire did start from the ground floor. We are awaiting confirmation. I cannot say more than that at this time,” she said.
She added that the flames escalated to the roof before emergency teams gained control, revealing that multiple agencies, including the police and rescue helicopters, supported evacuation efforts.
When asked whether the structure would still suffice for planned construction works, she said, “We do have professionals, civil and structural engineers, whose role is to assess the integrity of the structure once the fire has been contained to determine the next steps.”
Kuku confirmed that airport operations were partially affected, as most services had already moved to Terminal 2 ahead of planned rehabilitation works.
“Most of our departures and arrivals have already moved. We had three flights diverted, such as British Airways to Abuja, Lufthansa to Malabo, and Emirates as well,” she said. According to her, British Airways was diverted to Abuja, while Lufthansa and Emirates were diverted to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
Confirming the incident earlier, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, Henry Agbebire, said authorities were on the ground managing the situation.
“We are aware of the outbreak, and we are there right now. We will publish a statement right now,” he said. “Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to curtail the situation,” Agbebire added.
He assured the public that there were no fatalities. “No loss of lives has been recorded. Further updates will be recorded,” he said.
Meanwhile, Air Peace announced the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield following the fire outbreak at the International Wing (Old Terminal) of the airport.
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said, “Air Peace wishes to inform our valued passengers and the general public of the temporary closure of the Lagos (LOS) airfield following a fire outbreak at the International Wing (Old Terminal) of Murtala Muhammed International Airport earlier today.
“Airport authorities have suspended operations at the airfield to enable emergency responders contain the situation and safeguard airport users and infrastructure. Consequently, inbound and outbound flights across our network are experiencing delays pending the reopening of the airfield and restoration of normal operations.
“We empathise with passengers affected by this development and assure the public that we are working closely with relevant airport authorities while closely monitoring the situation. Passenger safety and operational integrity remain our highest priorities. Further updates will be provided as soon as verified information becomes available. We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued trust in Air Peace.”
As of the time of filing this report, efforts were ongoing to fully contain the fire and assess the extent of damage, while airlines continued to adjust operations in line with directives from airport authorities.
ValueJet boosts Lagos-Owerri service with daily flights
ValueJet Airlines has announced boosting its Lagos–Owerri operations with the introduction of daily flight services, aimed at strengthening connectivity between Nigeria’s commercial capital and the South-East region while responding to rising passenger demand.
This was contained in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday.
The airline announced that effective 23 March 2026, flights on the Lagos–Owerri route will increase from three weekly services to seven weekly operations, offering travellers greater flexibility and improved scheduling options.
The airline said the expansion is expected to ease travel pressure on one of Nigeria’s busiest domestic corridors frequently used by business travellers, families and entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the development, Managing Director of ValueJet, Omololu Majekodunmi, said the decision reflects its commitment to enhancing domestic air connectivity and supporting economic activities across the country.
He said, “The introduction of daily flights on the Lagos–Owerri route is in direct response to growing passenger demand. Our goal is to provide dependable and convenient travel options that connect people, businesses and opportunities across Nigeria.”
Majekodunmi added that the route plays a strategic role in commerce, education and social interaction between both regions, noting that consistent flight availability would improve mobility for professionals and families who rely on predictable travel schedules.
“Reliable air transport remains critical to national development. By increasing frequency, we are helping travellers plan better while also strengthening economic and social ties.”
More flights canceled as Qatar Airways suspends travel to and from Doha - INDEPENDENT
BY Simon Calder
- Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to and from Doha following the closure of Qatari airspace due to a "major combat operation" against Iran.
- The airspace closure, confirmed by Donald Trump, led to immediate diversions and returns to origin for flights from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin, and Heathrow.
- Iran and Iraq also closed their airspaces amidst escalating action, with explosions reported in Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, and Qatar.
- Thousands of British passengers are affected, including those returning from Asia, Australasia, and Africa, with some inbound flights diverted to Muscat, Cairo, and Athens.
- Qatar Airways stated it is working with authorities, expects delays once operations resume, and has deployed extra staff to assist affected passengers, prioritising safety.
FAAN’s cashless policy rollout sparks airport gridlock - PUNCH
Passengers travelling through airports in Lagos and Abuja on Sunday were left stranded following the implementation of the Federal Government’s cashless payment policy at airport access gates, triggering massive gridlock, missed flights, and widespread frustration among travellers.
Many passengers narrated harrowing experiences as motorists struggled to comply with the newly enforced electronic payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
While some travellers abandoned their vehicles at airport entrances due to difficulties completing payments, others said they missed scheduled flights after spending hours attempting to access the airports.
Passengers who spoke with The PUNCH lamented what they described as poor planning and inadequate infrastructure to support the transition to electronic payment collection.
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A frequent flyer in Lagos, Adedeji Rilewan, said government agencies must balance reform with operational readiness. He added that he had to park his car at the airport entrance with his relatives to catch his flight.
“Nobody is against cashless payment, but you don’t introduce a system that prevents people from catching flights. Airports are time-sensitive environments. I had to park my car with my cousins at the gate to be able to catch my flight. As I speak with you now, I am sweating profusely,” he said.
Another passenger at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, who identified himself simply as Wale, said the situation was chaotic and unexpected.
“I left home very early, thinking I had enough time for my flight, only to get stuck at the airport gate for over an hour. The payment system was not working smoothly. People were confused, and nobody seemed to know what to do,” he said.
Recall that barely six months ago, FAAN had announced that all payments at its revenue points, including airport access gates, car parks, VIP lounges, and protocol services, would become fully electronic beginning September 2025.
The agency said the initiative was designed to modernise airport operations, promote transparency, and align Nigeria’s aviation sector with global digital standards.
However, enforcement remained largely dormant until February, when FAAN announced that the Federal Government had resolved to fully activate the cashless policy from March 1, 2026, as part of efforts to block revenue leakages.
Sunday’s enforcement marked the first full-scale implementation of the directive. Findings by The PUNCH revealed that airport users were required to obtain a dedicated FAAN electronic payment card, which must be registered, funded, and scanned at entry points.
Although some passengers attempted to pay using commercial bank ATM cards or Point-of-Sale terminals, many complained that the process was slow and repeatedly unsuccessful. The resulting delays created long queues of vehicles stretching several kilometres at airport entrances in both Lagos and Abuja.
Reacting to the development, FAAN’s spokesperson, Henry Agbebire, attributed the disruption to last-minute compliance by motorists despite months of public sensitisation.
“I think what happened was that we tried to publicise this as much as possible, but a lot of people waited till the last minute before getting their cards. The implementation of the cashless programme started today,” he said.
According to him, the agency had completely eliminated cash payments at airport toll gates, stating that FAAN had made provisions for card registration near airport entrances.
Agbebire said, “Nobody passed through the toll gate and paid cash today, and that led to traffic congestion because many people were registering on the spot to obtain cards.
“There is a canopy close to the toll gate where people can register. Those coming from Oshodi can cross over, while those approaching from the local airport end can drive into the aviation school area to get their cards.”
Agbebire insisted that card availability was not a challenge, adding that while POS payments were accepted, they slowed traffic flow.
The FAAN spokesman maintained that the cashless initiative was necessary to curb corruption and ensure transparency in revenue collection.
He said, “We don’t have a problem with cards. We have enough cards for people. The card is free. You only need to load it, maybe N1,000 or N2,000, and you can use it several times before reloading.
“We accept POS, but POS transactions slow down movement, so we encourage people to get the dedicated FAAN card. From tomorrow, more personnel in branded shirts will assist travellers with registration. The idea is to block leakages and align with the Federal Government directive that revenues must be collected electronically,” he said.
Also commenting on the development, Michael Achimugu of the NCAA, said the disruption was expected to ease once airport users obtained the payment cards. He expressed optimism that the system would soon become efficient.
“Due to the new FAAN cashless policy, vehicles passing through the tollgate are enduring some delays in order to get the card. If they do, the traffic situation would only be an inconvenience for today,” he said. “Going forward, it is expected to be more seamless than ever before. It also blocks corruption loopholes,” Achimugu added.
Private Jet Prices Soar For Wealthy Tourists Desperate To Leave Dubai - FORBES
Travelers stranded in the United Arab Emirates after missile and drone attacks from Iran forced the closure of the Dubai airport are paying upwards of $140,000 for flights on private jets and driving more than 10 hours to open airports in attempts to leave the region as war breaks out.
A private jet. Getty Images
Key Facts
The Dubai airport, a global hub and connection point for major air routes across the world, has been closed since Saturday, when nearly 300 flights were canceled and thousands of passengers were left stranded.
While limited operations are expected to resume later Monday, there’s no estimate as to when the airport will fully reopen, and rich travelers have been fleeing for airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia to circumvent the closure.
Altay Kula, a spokesperson for private jet brokerage JetVIP, said demand for private jets has surged sharply while the number of operators willing to fly in the region has plummeted.
James Leach of Air Charter Service said many local aircraft that would usually be used for private flights in the region are stuck at closed airports, meaning planes are coming in from much farther away to pick up passengers, increasing average prices.
Airports in Muscat, Oman, and—to a lesser extent due to visa restrictions—Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have become travel hubs, both spokespeople said, and Semafor reported that private security companies have booked fleets of SUVs to ferry clients to open airports where they can catch private flights.
Those evacuating include senior executives at global finance firms and wealthy travelers in the region for business or vacation, Semafor reported.
A majority of evacuation flights are headed toward Istanbul, London or Rome, Kula said, with light flight jet trips from Muscat to Istanbul selling for more than $93,000, about twice the usual rate, and rates for heavy jets making the same trip are reaching up to $140,000.
Qatar to extend entry visas for travellers stranded in the country - EURONEWS
Story by
Travellers stuck in Qatar due to the country’s airspace closure will have their entry visas extended without fees, the Ministry of Interior has announced.
The extension, which will be valid for one month, applies to all visa entry categories and will be processed automatically. Further extensions may be announced in the future “in line with developments”.
Those whose entry visas expired prior to 28 February, when Iran’s retaliatory strikes began, will still need to pay overstay fines incurred.
Citizens of 102 countries around the globe can get a free visa on arrival in Qatar, but the length of stay depends on nationality.
For the majority of European nations, you can stay for up to 90 days. Others can get a 30-day visa which is extendable for a further 30 days.
Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority announced it would be closing the airspace just after noon local time (10 am CET) on 28 February.
Qatar Airways, the country’s flag carrier, has been posting daily updates about the continued suspension of flights daily before 9 am local time (7 am CET). The next update is due on 4 March.
Visit visas are also being extended for tourists in Thailand affected by cancellations on flights to the Middle East.
Mahmood to stop study visas from four countries due to 'abuse' - BBC
BY Jennifer McKiernanPolitical reporter
The UK government will stop issuing study visas to people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan from this month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said, as well as stopping skilled work visas to Afghans.
The Home Office said the action was being taken due to what it said was widespread visa abuse.
According to official figures, people from the four countries were the most likely to make an asylum claim after originally coming to the UK to study.
"The government is clamping down on visa abuse so the UK can maintain its ability and proud tradition of helping those genuinely in need," a government spokesperson added.
In its release, the government said asylum claims from people who had originally travelled to the UK legally - to do something like studying - had more than tripled between 2021 and 2025.
Home Office figures showed that people claiming asylum off the back of a study visa make up 13% of all claims currently in the system.
Mahmood said she was "taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity".
"I will restore order and control to our borders."
The Home Office said a higher proportion of people than average from the four specified country cited destitution as part of their asylum claim, and there were 16,000 people from the four countries currently being supported.
About 95% of Afghans who arrived in the UK on a study visa then applied for asylum since 2021, while applications by students from Myanmar increased 16-fold and claims by students from Cameroon and Sudan more than quadrupled.
On its reasoning for ending work visas for Afghans, the Home Office also cited the large numbers claiming asylum in the UK once their visas expired.
It said this this posed "an unsustainable threat to the UK's asylum system".
Mahmood will introduce new legislation to stop the issuing of visas through an Immigration Rules change on Thursday 5 March.
In November, the home secretary threatened to shut down all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo unless their governments agreed to take deportations, which led to a resumption of returns flights with all three countries.
The measures follow the prime minister's decision to adopt a more hard-edged approach to diplomacy in response to pressure to reduce immigration from those on the political right, including the Conservatives and Reform UK.
Last week, the government announced protection for refugees would be halved to 30 months in an attempt to reduce small boat crossings.
In 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, which was almost 5,000 more than the previous year.
The UK has resettled the sixth largest number of refugees referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the world, which the Home Office said demonstrated the government's commitment to helping those genuinely in need.
The home secretary will give a speech this week on making the "progressive case" for immigration control.
Last month, about 40 Labour MPs raised concerns about the impact of the proposals to change permanent settlement rights for migrants already living here, describing the retrospective approach as "un-British" and "moving the goalposts".
They have warned it could worsen the UK's skills shortage, particularly in the care sector.
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were contacted for comment.
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