The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has attributed the issue of Nigerian workers sleeping in cars after being recruited by the United Kingdom’s prison service to inadequate planning by the workers.

A report from The Telegraph highlighted that some Nigerians, along with other foreign nationals, faced accommodation challenges after securing jobs with the UK prison service.

Many of the recruits, including Nigerians, had travelled to the UK through skilled worker visas to help address the staffing shortages in the prison system.

However, upon arrival, 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.

Fairhurst shared an example of a foreign recruit who had travelled 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 area across from the prison after discovering that housing was not included.

He said, “We’ve had problems with people who turn up at the gates with their cases and families, asking where the accommodation is.”

The recruitment drive, which began after changes in the UK visa rules in October 2023, included prison officers as part of the skilled worker visa category, allowing up to 250 foreign nationals to work in the prison service after undergoing interviews and vetting.

President of the Prison Governors Association, Tom Wheatley, noted that the increase in applicants, particularly from Africa, was largely driven by online word of mouth, especially within the Nigerian expat community.

Reacting to these reports, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun emphasised the importance of ensuring that all travel arrangements are legitimate and well-planned.

He stressed that Nigerian workers abroad should prioritise securing accommodation to avoid unnecessary hardship.

The NiDCOM spokesperson explained, “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 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.