Travel News

BY Rachael Burford

Less than a third of UK visas issued have been given to the highly-skilled foreign workers needed to boost Britain’s economy it has been revealed, as Downing Street defended the delay to the Government’s new immigration blueprint.

Home Office data shows that fewer than 181,000 visas out of a total of about 560,000 were allocated to workers in key fields in the four years to the end of 2024.

This means just 32% were handed out to professionals in the eight sectors identified by the Government as the answer to boosting economic growth, business consultancy specialist Centuro Global said.

Its analysis, released on Monday, found that although 133,000 more employees are needed in UK life sciences jobs by 2030, just 16,000 visas were issued to people with those skills over the four year period.

Financial services, defence, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, digital and technology sectors and clean energy industries were also short of workers need to fill jobs, the data suggests.

It has sparked accusations that Britain’s visa system is “unfit for purpose” and should be reformed to allow more highly-skilled people to come into the country.

It comes as it was revealed Sir Keir Starmer’s blueprint to reduce net migration has been pushed back until after Easter, reportedly due to minister disagreements over how to appease businesses likely to struggle from the impact of new US tariffs.

The Prime Minister in November pledged to tighten immigration rules as number were at a record high. Net migration fell to 728,000 in the year to June 2024, but Sir Keir has pledged to reduce it significantly before the next election.

The Government plans to publish a White Paper, which it says will lay out plans “to restore” the UK’s “broken immigration system”.

It had been due early this year, but is now not expected until after the local elections in May.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said on Monday: “That work is obviously of critical importance.

“We've been very clear that we will take a bold approach to reduce the sky high levels of migration, which quadrupled under the last government.

“So we're working on a plan that restores order to our immigration system.”

Asked why it had been delayed, he added: “It’s an ambitious piece of work to reduce sky high levels of migration.”

Last spring, the previous Conservative Government significantly hiked the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa and imposed much stricter restrictions on employees bringing dependents into the country with them.

These changes, aimed to reduce net migration, have inadvertently hurt industries that rely on highly skilled foreign workers, it was argued.

Zain Ali, CEO and co-founder of Centuro Global, said: “The UK’s visa system is unfit for purpose and fails to differentiate between roles critical to our economy and those that could be filled domestically.

"The recent report by the National Audit Office confirmed what businesses have been telling us for months: frequent and unpredictable changes to visa rules make workforce planning almost impossible.

“Immigration policies should be shaped by labour market realities, not short-term political pressures."

He added: “A smarter, growth-focused visa system is needed to ensure businesses can access top global talent while maintaining control over immigration.”

It comes after it was revealed that the changes to the UK’s Skilled Worker visa route for foreign workers were made without understanding the impact it would have and resulted in thousands more migrants claiming asylum in the country.

There had been a significant increase in the number of people holding a Skilled Worker visa claiming asylum - up from just 53 claims in 2022 to 5,300 in the first 10 months of 2024, the National Audit Office (NAO) found.

Far more foreign workers are also using the route to come to the UK than the Government initially anticipated, the spending watchdog said in its report.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Under the last government there were a large volume of visas were granted seeing net migration in the millions.

“This government is getting a grip of this problem.

“Under our Plan for Change, our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system, linking immigration, skills and visa systems to grow our domestic workforce, end reliance on overseas labour and boost economic growth.”

BY Neil Shaw

New rules for European citizens coming into the UK came into force on April 2 and are causing confusion, with a warning issued for holidaymakers planning a break in France, Spain, Greece, Italy or Portugal. Since last week, the European Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been in force, meaning European citizens coming into the UK need to pay for a 'pass' to enter the country.

Similar rules are coming for UK travellers who want to get into 30 countries in Europe - which will see UK holidaymakers have to pay to enter the EU. While those rules, known as ETIAS, have been delayed for another 18 months, confusion is allowing scammers to target holidaymakers with fake websites that will take your identity and bank details.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has issued a warning over the fake sites. At the minute you do not need any document other than your passport to get into Europe.

Explaining the current new rules for European citizens coming into the UK, an ABTA spokesman said: “If you have friends, family, or business associates visiting from abroad, they’ll need to check if they need to get an ETA. This is one of three changes coming up for travelling across borders between the EU and UK, but the only one to have gone live, meaning there is scope for confusion.”

The other changes yet to come are the EU Entry/Exit system (EES) and ETIAS.

EES is a new electronic border control system being rolled out by the European Union to modernise how travellers from non-EU countries are tracked when entering and leaving the Schengen Area. It r eplaces passport stamping for non-EU travellers and will see you have to give b iometric data - fingerprints and facial image scans.

EES is set to begin in October this year.

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. ETIAS is not a visa but an electronic travel authorisation for non-EU travellers who don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen Area. It’s meant to enhance border security by pre-screening travellers before they arrive .

Travellers going from the UK to the EU will need to apply for ETIAS and make a small payment. But that system has yet to start.

ETIAS is expected to be introduced towards the end of 2026. Graeme Buck, director of communications at ABTA, said: “With three new changes coming in over the next couple of years, we’re keen that people understand what it means for them. In short, the only thing to act on now is for European visitors to the UK to apply for an ETA. Nothing will be changing for UK travellers going to Europe this summer.”

ABTA said: "People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud, with a loss of money and possibly personal data too."

BY Neil Shaw

A new date has been set for an extra travel document people going from the UK to 30 countries in Europe will need to have. Plans for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) coming into force have been delayed multiple times.

ETIAS is a £5.90 document UK travellers will need if they want to get into the EU - including countries like Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Italy. A similar scheme for EU citizens who want to come into the UK came into force on April 2.

ETIAS was originally planned for introduction shortly after Brexit - in 2022. Most recently it was due to come into force in May this year, 2025.

A new Entry Exit System (EES) of technology needs to be deployed across EU airports and borders before ETIAS can be used. EES will mean you need to give fingerprints and facial scans to gain entry to Europe.

ETIAS will be deployed six months after EES is up and running. That means ETIAS is currently set to come into force at the end of 2026.

EES had been due to launch in November 2024 but Germany, France and the Netherlands were not ready. EES could start to come into use in October this year and be fully operational by the middle of 2026.

The UK Government is spending millions ahead of EES - with large new areas to process travellers leaving the UK at Dover and St Pancras.

When ETIAS is in force you will need to buy a new document every three years if you want to visjikt a European country.

The UK's ETA system was first introduced in November 2023. An ETA – which is a digital permission to travel – is currently required for all non-Europeans entering the UK without legal residence rights or a visa.

They became a requirement for Europeans from April 2. Applications for an ETA can be made through the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website.

ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport. The Home Office says they ensure “more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK”, which helps prevent “abuse of our immigration system”.

Each ETA permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires if that is sooner.

By Abdullateef Aliyu

Within the next few weeks, manual screening of passengers would be eliminated at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), in Lagos, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

This followed the deployment of advanced screening technologies, e-gate systems to enhance security and safety of airport users.

MMA currently operates six Orion 928DX machines and four Orion 927DX systems, with plans to receive four more units in the coming weeks.

According to her, its integrated algorithm also allows it to adapt and absorb future upgrades, a feature many older systems lack. “This machine can evolve with new technologies. It’s designed to grow,” she said.

The system also includes a dual-mode auto-set feature for detecting organic substances, such as agricultural products, often concealed in luggage.

She disclosed that the authority adopted a train-the-trainer approach with the training of 12 staff members including users and technical support personnel who would train others. They were trained by equipment manufacturers in the UK.

According to Ogechukwu-Juliet, the upgrade is also ongoing at other international airports across the country, including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

“With this technology, we really don’t need to stand by a table and start opening bags. Once the system identifies a suspicious item, it gives us an exact image and location. Then, if necessary, we proceed to a secondary search, quickly and efficiently.

“Let me put it this way, with this machine, we can dismantle the old manual search tables. That’s exactly what we’re looking at”, she noted. FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, ACP Igbafe Afegbe (rtd) reiterated that manual passenger screening would be eliminated in the next one week.

“We are trying to eliminate physical contact and unnecessary interference during travel. With this new e-gate system, passengers only need to scan their boarding passes to pass through. Without a valid pass, access is denied — and that significantly reduces touting and prevents unauthorized access,” Afegbe said.

To further enhance security operations, FAAN has also installed a new set of high-performance baggage screening machines designed to detect narcotics, undeclared currencies, and other contraband at the cargo terminal.

“We are now installing multiple monitors on each screening machine, so every agency has access to a dedicated screen,” he said.

Head of FAAN’s Protocol Unit, Rose Annette Akinlabi, also explained that the lounge at the MMIA terminal two has been remodeled to serve as a transitional holding point for clients ahead of immigration processing.

“It’s a functional lounge, not your typical luxury setting. It’s primarily a holding area where we help our clients put their travel documents in order before taking them for passport stamping,” Akinlabi explained.

Speaking with our correspondent, Aviation analyst, Mr. Chris Aligbe said the multiplicity of agencies checking passenger baggage should be eliminated.

He said the deployment of facilities like the Orion is what is needed to facilitate passenger and baggage screening.

FG acknowledges US 14% tariff on Nigerian export

Meanwhile, the federal government has acknowledged the recent tariff measures announced by the U.S. Government, including imposing a 14 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports.

This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on Sunday in Abuja.

Oduwole, while responding to the announcement of the recent tariff, said that Nigeria remained actively engaged in consultations with U.S. counterparts and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

She said that the Federal Government remained firmly committed to building economic resilience and accelerating export diversification.

“The Federal Government acknowledges the recent tariff measures announced by the government of the United States, including imposing a 14 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports.

“The Federal Government considers the United States a valued trade and investment partner, bound by shared values and mutual economic interests.”

United Nigeria Airlines has announced that it is currently experiencing a system downtime which is affecting flight bookings and payment services.

In a statement on Tuesday, Uloka Chibuike, the airline’s public relations officer, said the technical team is working diligently to resolve the issue and restore full services.

“Kindly be informed that we are currently experiencing a temporary system downtime,” the statement reads.

“As a result, flight bookings and payment services are presently affected.

“Our technical team is actively working to resolve the issue and restore full services as soon as possible.”

The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and expressed appreciation for the patience and understanding of its passengers.

According to experts, system downtimes in the airline industry, whether due to IT outages, maintenance issues, or other factors, often lead to significant disruptions, including flight delays, cancellations, and financial losses for airlines and inconvenience for passengers.

More than 4,000 flights were cancelled following a global information technology (IT) shutdown in July 2024.

The minister noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Nigeria has dropped to 3.9 per 10,000 people.

by Mariam Ileyemi

Nigeria has lost over 16,000 doctors in the last five to seven years, a situation that has cost the country billions of naira, according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the seventh annual capacity-building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), Mr Pate, a professor, expressed concern over the rising migration of healthcare workers and its economic impact on the health sector.

He said the estimated cost of training a single doctor in Nigeria exceeds $21,000, highlighting the fiscal damage of losing such a large number of trained professionals to other countries.

“This trend is not just about people leaving,” the minister said. “It represents a fiscal loss. The estimated cost of training one doctor exceeds $21,000—a figure that reflects the magnitude of public financing walking out of our countries.

“It deeply affects our health systems—leaving many of our rural communities critically underserved.”

Doctor-to-population ratio falls

The minister noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Nigeria has dropped to 3.9 per 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended standard.

“In Nigeria alone, over 16,000 doctors are estimated to have left the country in the last five to seven years, with thousands more leaving in just the past few years. Nurses and midwives have also thinned in numbers. The doctor-to-population ratio now stands at around 3.9 per 10,000—well below the suggested global minimum,” he noted.

Mr Pate explained that the exodus is driven by a combination of factors, including better economic prospects, improved working conditions, access to advanced training, and more supportive research environments abroad.

He acknowledged that the migration of health professionals from developing to developed countries is not new, but said it has intensified in recent years, with more healthcare workers aspiring to practice outside Nigeria.

National policy on migration

Despite the challenges, the minister said the situation offers an opportunity to rethink and reshape health workforce management policies.

He referenced the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration as part of the federal government’s broader efforts under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“This policy is designed to address health workforce migration with dignity—dignity for health workers, for the country, and for the profession,” he said. “It is not a restrictive policy, nor is it one born out of resignation. It is evidence-based and data-driven.”

He explained that the policy aims to retain and motivate health workers still in Nigeria, establish ethical recruitment agreements with destination countries, expand training capacity, reintegrate Nigerian professionals abroad, and strengthen regulatory systems and data management.

Mr Pate acknowledged that the global health workforce shortage is at 18 million, and countries in the Global North face their human resource crises due to demography and other factors.

“But our response is based on stewardship—balancing the rights of health professionals to seek opportunities abroad with our duty to protect the integrity and viability of our national health system,” he said.

Call to action

Mr Pate, who praised President Tinubu’s role as the African Union’s Continental Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery, urged other African countries to join Nigeria in forging a continental response to workforce mobility.

He proposed a new compact based on pan-African training and accreditation standards, shared planning tools, and joint negotiating platforms with countries that recruit African health workers.

Also speaking at the workshop, the President of AMCOA, Joel Okullo, emphasised the need for unity among African nations in regulating healthcare and managing the growing challenge of workforce mobility.

Mr Okullo expressed the belief that the outcome of the workshop would produce actionable strategies to improve healthcare services across Africa.

“This year’s theme highlights our commitment to tackling the diverse array of challenges within the health regulatory landscape,” he said.

“Let us embark on this journey with enthusiasm and a shared sense of purpose. Our collaborative efforts today and over the next few days will lay the groundwork for transformative changes.”

Professional unity, patient focus

The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Fatima Kyari, welcomed participants and noted that this was Nigeria’s first time hosting the AMCOA workshop.

Ms Kyari lauded the alignment of leadership at various levels to ensure patient safety and stronger regulation. Chairman of MDCN’s Governing Board and head of the Local Organising Committee, Afolabi Lesi, stressed the need for healthcare regulators to maintain global standards while tailoring practices to suit the local context.

However, Mr Lesi raised concerns over divisions among health professionals that hinder effective teamwork and patient care.

“The reality is that while we have committed and clear directions at the level of governance, implementation of actions is bedevilled by fractioned and fractious relationships among health workers who ought to be working as a team,” he said.

“The patient’s well-being and safety must be the primary focus of all our actions.”

By Gilbert Ekugbe

The President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina has expressed concerns over the migration phenomenon known as ‘Japa’ in Nigeria, saying that Nigeria and the African continent are the biggest losers to the ‘Japa’ trend.

Adesina who spoke on Thursday in an interview on Channels Television, said youths in Nigeria and other 51 countries in Africa don’t need freebies under the guise of empowerment schemes but capital to fund their ideas and translate the same into enduring wealth.

The former Nigerian Agriculture Minister said Africa’s youth swelling is a demographic asset that has to become an economic asset through rigorous investment in human capital development and financing.

According to him, Africa’s youth population was not a problem for the continent because India and China’s population have not been a problem for them, as it is what you do with your population and how you skill them up that matters.

The AfDB boss said that if young people in Africa are skilled with good jobs and social protection, these would turn to prosperity for the continent because the demography has high purchasing power.

He said that in a world of rising tariffs, it is important for Africa to build consumption as part of its gross domestic product.

“In the case of young people and the Japa syndrome, it’s a big loss for us. Young people don’t need freebies; they don’t need people saying: ‘I just want to give you an empowerment programme.

“They have skills, they have knowledge, they have entrepreneurship capacity, and they want to turn their ideas into great businesses. What young people need is not those empowerment programmes; they need capital, they need you to put your money at risk on their behalf.

“We have over 465 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35. Africa should not turn what should be its demographic asset into somebody else’s problem due to the inability to believe in young people and invest in their ideas for continental prosperity.

“I do not believe that the future of our young people lies in Europe; it doesn’t lie in America, it doesn’t lie in Canada, Japan, or China; it should lie in Africa growing well, growing robustly and able to create quality jobs for our young people,” he said.

By Amos Tauna

The implementation of a new electronic visa (e-Visa) system will commence on May 1st, 2025, the federal government has announced.

Tunji Ojo, the Minister of Interior, and his Aviation and Aerospace Development counterpart, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure in Abuja during a meeting on the implementation and enforcement of immigration protocols.

Without the need for a physical visit to an embassy or consulate, an electronic visa is a digital form of a visa that allows travelers to obtain travel authorization online. It simplifies the visa application process, making it more convenient and faster.

The visa is either printed or stored digitally for presentation upon entry into the destination country, with travelers typically filling out an online application form, uploading required documents (like a passport), paying the visa fee, and receiving the e-visa via email.

E-visas are used by many countries and are generally issued for purposes such as tourism, business, or transit. They streamline the travel experience by reducing paperwork and wait times.

Tunji-Ojo explained that there is a centralized visa approval center already at the immigration headquarters, assuring that officers have been trained, well-equipped, and integrated with all major criminal record systems in the world, including Interpol, for better background checks on people coming into Nigeria.

According to him, “We are also looking at removing bottlenecks and making sure people can get visas to Nigeria without lobbying anyone to come into Nigeria.”

He further explained that they want to open their borders without compromising national security, allowing people to come and explore the beauty of the land called Nigeria.

The Minister stated that they had decided to work together to ensure that there is only one interest to be protected: the Nigerian interest, stressing that the NCAA and the NIS have agreed to set up a mini-team to work together on the implementation framework, regulations, and protocols.

The latest retrofitted A380s will operate on EK017/018 to Manchester from 6 June, and on EK091/092 to Milan from 1 July

Emirates will be introducing its newest Airbus A380s fitted with its latest cabins, including Premium Economy, to Manchester and Milan.

The latest retrofitted A380s will operate on EK017/018 to Manchester from 6 June, and on EK091/092 to Milan from 1 July.

With the introduction of Emirates' newly retrofitted A380 to Manchester, the airline will expand its Premium Economy offering to nearly 5,000 weekly seats in and out of the UK from June.

The enhanced service to Manchester complements the four daily retrofitted A380s currently serving the Dubai-London Heathrow route, the Emirates A350 operating to Edinburgh, and the soon-to-launch refurbished Boeing 777 scheduled to serve London Stansted from May.

Milan will become Emirates’ second Italian gateway to offer the airline’s latest cabins and Premium Economy seats following the planned deployment of the airline’s A350 to Bologna later in June.

These additions will expand Emirates' network of retrofitted A380 destinations to 19 global points, underscoring the airline's commitment to investing in the very best customer experience in the sky and adding more premium cabin options and choice across geographies.

By July, travellers from Manchester and Milan will be able to experience Emirates' latest cabin features onboard the four-class A380 on the full journey to key points across Australasia and Asia including Sydney, Singapore, Osaka, Mumbai, Bangalore, and more.

On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Each seat offers generous pitch and width for working and relaxing, as well as customised features like in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.

The onboard experience is rounded off with meticulously selected in-flight amenities, a curated menu, and extensive beverage options, including the Chandon Vintage Brut 2016, a global exclusive to Emirates Premium Economy passengers. -TradeArabia News Service

…As global carriers cut forecasts

As the aviation industry enters into a low travel season, airlines operating from Nigeria to Europe are beginning to slash their fares and offering business promotions to woo passengers.

A low travel season is a period when there is a reduction in the number of people who are willing to travel. It occurs between February and May of every year.

Popular carrier British Airways recently offered its premium economy class ticket to London at $300 as against over $1000.

Generally, for several airlines, the price of a one-way economy class return ticket from Lagos to Europe has dropped by 15 percent- 25 percent from N2 million to N3 million seen by the summer of 2024.

A Lagos to London Gatwick summer ticket currently costs between N1.5 million to N1.8 million as against over N2 million seen by the summer of 2024.

Also, a Lagos to France ticket is priced between N1.5 million to N1.9 million today, with Lagos to Amsterdam costing between N1.6 million to N1.9 million. Moreover, a Lagos to Brussels ticket currently goes between N1.6 million and N1.8 million. These rates are cheaper when compared with the summer period of 2024.

Similarly, a one-way business class return ticket from Lagos to Europe, which cost between N5 million and N9 million last summer, has been reduced across most European routes.

A Lagos to London Heathrow business class ticket now costs between N4 million and N6.8 million, while a Lagos to France trip is priced between N3.2 million and N8 million.

Similarly, a Lagos to Berlin business class ticket costs between N5 million and N7.4 million, with a Lagos to Amsterdam trip on a business class priced between N4.2 million to N8.5 million.

Also, a Lagos to Brussels business class ticket costs between N4.8 million and N6.8 million.

“People are not really travelling now, so airlines are doing aggressive marketing with promo fares. Whatever ticket price you are seeing that looks cheap must either be a promo fare or because the rate of airlines’ exchange has stabilised. These have kept the fares a bit stable. Once we enter the high season, the fares will change,” Susan Akporaiye, former president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), told BusinessDay.

Alex Nwuba, president, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, said airlines can offer cheaper fares because the ecosystem enables it.

“Europe offers a healthy mix of premium and low-cost airports with varying charges, lower handling charges, lower cost of doing business, and a healthy policy environment, which they can pass onto passengers in the form of low fares. The reverse is clearly the case in Nigeria where airlines are held hostage by the system itself, which translates into higher cost of operations and higher fares,” Nwuba, who is a former chief executive officer of the Associated Airlines, said.

Airlines cut forecasts

Similarly, Air France has reduced air ticket prices to maintain full economy cabins on its transatlantic flights due to a weakening demand for international travel, the airline’s CEO, Ben Smith, told Bloomberg TV.

This is, however, largely tied to Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs which he later paused on Wednesday.

However, airlines are generally seeing a weakening demand for a number of other reasons including plummeting purchases across the Atlantic and consumer pullback on bookings.

Delta Air Lines reduced its first-quarter forecast due to weaker-than-expected corporate and leisure bookings. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines also cut their outlooks for the first half of the year, CNBC reported.

Airline stocks have tumbled this year, with Delta falling by more than 38 percent and American Airlines crashing by over 45 percent. United Airlines has dropped more than 40 percent in 2025 already.

“The level of sell-off is worse than the reality right now, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be the reality six months from now,” Savanthi Synth, an aviation analyst, told CNBC.