Nigeria: US targets corrupt officials, while UK’s reform party moves to scrap permanent residency

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The United States has announced it will deny entry to Nigerian officials and other high-profile figures found guilty of corruption. The US Mission said its anti-corruption stance has no borders and promised that anyone engaged in corrupt practices will be blocked from obtaining visas.

At the same time, the Reform Party in the UK has unveiled a controversial immigration policy that would end the right of migrants to gain permanent settlement after five years. If the party wins the next election, the system of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) would be scrapped and replaced with renewable visas requiring migrants to reapply every five years under stricter conditions.

Reform leaders argue the move would cut costs and prevent non-citizens from accessing welfare benefits. Party head Nigel Farage said the UK should not serve as “the world’s food bank,” insisting the policy would save the government billions over time.

Under current rules, migrants can apply for ILR after five years, allowing them to live, work, and claim benefits in the UK permanently. Reform’s plan would raise salary thresholds, tighten English language requirements, and force applicants to prove their eligibility repeatedly.

The proposal comes as hundreds of thousands of migrants who arrived after Brexit approach the five-year threshold to qualify for permanent residence. Critics, however, argue that the projected savings are unrealistic and warn that the policy could disrupt the lives of many who already contribute to the UK economy.