Nigeria faces potential UK visa curbs over slavery reparations push

Nigeria has been named among countries that could face visa restrictions from the United Kingdom (UK) under a proposed policy by Reform UK, UK’s political party if it seeks slavery reparations.

Slavery reparations are actions, including monetary payments, structural reforms, or formal apologies, intended to redress the enduring economic, social, and psychological injustices inflicted upon victims of slavery and their descendants. It is a form of reparatory justice aimed at fixing the lasting legacy of human rights abuses

The party identified Nigeria, Ghana, Barbados and Jamaica as countries pursuing reparatory justice from Britain, warning that such demands could result in the denial of visitor and work visas if it forms a future government.

This proposal comes amid renewed global debate over reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, following a recent resolution by the United Nations General Assembly, which declared the transatlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity”. The resolution stressed that reparation claims “represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs against Africans and people of African descent”.

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Adopted by 123 votes to three, with the UK abstaining, the resolution is not legally binding but is widely seen by analysts as a strong political signal.

Reacting to the vote, António Guterres, UN secretary-general said the wealth of many Western nations was “built on stolen lives and stolen labour”. He added that slavery “was not simply forced labour”, but “a machinery of mass exploitation and deliberate dehumanisation of men, women and children”, warning that its legacy remains deep and often unrecognised.

Historically, Britain transported an estimated three million Africans across the Atlantic before abolishing the slave trade in the early 19th century. However, successive UK governments have consistently rejected calls for reparations.

Last month, Kemi Badenoch, conservative party leader reiterated this position, stating that the UK should not pay compensation for “a crime we helped eradicate and still fight today”.

Under its proposed framework, Reform UK said it would treat actions such as the establishment of national reparations committees, tabling motions at the UN, pursuing high court claims or issuing official declarations as formal demands for compensation.

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The party stated that from this point, any country making such demands would face immediate visa restrictions under a Reform-led government. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman argued that countries seeking reparations “ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition”.

Meanwhile, calls for reparations continue to gain traction across Africa and the Caribbean. The Caribbean Community, comprising 21 countries, has long advanced a 10-point plan for reparatory justice, including a formal apology, debt cancellation and investment to address illiteracy and public health challenges.

Political reaction in the UK has been mixed, as a Labour Party spokesperson described Reform’s proposal as a “desperate gimmick”, while the Conservatives declined to comment.

Speaking after the meeting, Keir Starmer, prime minister maintained that there had been no discussions about financial compensation, adding that the UK remains “very clear” in its position that it will not pay reparations.