The number of visas issued to foreign nationals entering the UK for work, study, family, or humanitarian purposes has fallen sharply.

According to new data by the UK Home Office, 834,977 entry visas were granted in the year to June 2025 across these categories, down nearly a third (32 percent ) from 1.23 million in the previous 12 months.

The data shows that work-related visas saw the steepest decline, plunging 48 percent from 545,855 to 286,071.

Study visas dropped by 18 percent, falling from 530,312 to 435,891, while family visas decreased by 15 percent, from 83,912 to 70,961.

Among humanitarian and resettlement categories, 14,216 visas were issued under the Ukraine schemes (down 48 percent year-on-year), 11,804 to British National Overseas (BNO) status holders from Hong Kong (down 47 percent), and 9,357 under the EU Settlement Scheme (down 34 percent).

Additionally, 3,640 visas were granted to dependants joining or accompanying others, while 3,037 were issued under other settlement schemes.

The overall total is the lowest for any 12 months since the year to September 2021, when 802,415 visas were issued.

The sharp decline follows changes to legal migration rules introduced early last year by the previous conservative government.

These included restrictions on most international students bringing family members to the UK and a ban on overseas care workers bringing dependants.

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said the government’s actions have been key to “restoring order” to the immigration system.

“We inherited a broken immigration and asylum system that the previous government left in chaos,” she said.

“Since coming to office, we have strengthened Britain’s visa and immigration controls, cut asylum costs and sharply increased enforcement and returns, as today’s figures show.

“The action we have taken in the last 12 months — increasing returns of failed asylum seekers by over 30 percent, cutting asylum costs by 11 percent, reducing the backlog by 18 percent and our forthcoming plans to overhaul the failing asylum appeal system — are crucial steps to restoring order and putting an end to the chaotic use of asylum hotels that we inherited from the previous government.

“At the same time, we are bringing legal migration back under control, with a 48 percent reduction in work visas this year — and further stronger visa controls and higher skill requirements introduced through our White Paper expected to bring those overall numbers down further.”

Olohundare Jimoh, commissioner of police in Lagos, has ordered the restructuring of the police squad involved in the “assault of a motorist” during a stop-and-search operation in Lagos.

The directive follows widespread condemnation of officers caught on camera forcibly trying to remove the motorist’s eyeglass — on suspicion that the pair of glasses had a video recording feature.

On Friday, a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed the confrontation between officers and the motorist.

Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Lagos police command, said swift disciplinary action has been taken against the officers involved.

In a statement, the police said the incident is isolated and does not reflect the professionalism expected of its personnel.

The force’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out and sanctioning errant officers whose actions undermine the reputation of the majority of dedicated and responsible officers.

“We strongly condemn the actions of some officers captured in a viral video attempting to forcibly remove a pair of glasses from a motorist during a stop-and-search operation, and further assaulting him,” the statement reads.

“The officers involved have been identified as personnel attached to the Lagos state police command.

“The commissioner of police in charge of the Lagos state command has been contacted and has swiftly acted appropriately to ensure that the officers face commensurate disciplinary actions. He has equally ordered for the restructuring of the squad involved.

“The Nigeria police force assures the public that this isolated incident does not represent the standards of professionalism expected of police personnel.

“The force leadership stands on its commitment to identifying and sanctioning the very few errant officers whose actions embarrass dedicated, hardworking and responsible personnel of the force.”

The Anambra First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has won the First Lady of the Year(Health-Care and Child Support) at the 2025 Nigerian Humanitarian Awards and Magazine.

The award ceremony, held on Friday night. follows an open nationwide nomination and public voting process that drew thousands of responses from citizens and humanitarian observers across the country.

Organised by the ‘Humanitarian Achievement and Outreach Foundation’, the organisers said the award recognises Dr Soludo’s remarkable leadership and humanitarian contributions through her “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo” initiative — a campaign focused on community health awareness, maternal and child care, nutritional education, and support for underprivileged families in rural and urban areas of Anambra State.

While recieving the award, Soludo thanked the organisers and other Nigerians who recognised her initiative and voted for her.

She said, “Last night in Abuja, I received the Award as Nigeria’s First Lady of the Year (Healthcare & Child Support), courtesy of Humanitarian Awards, Magazine & Summit.

“What began over 19 years ago as a simple passion has, now transformed into a massive crusade.

“I couldn’t be any less grateful for the grace of consistency and support. Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo has come to stay.

“For each laurel and accolade that come our way, we take them in the manner of greater expectations. This one is special.”

“To all of you who come out each Saturday morning to workout with me and to all the beautiful children in Anambra whose life and future have been reassured by what we do. This is for you. You are the pride of what we do.”

She, however, dedicated the award to her “Healthy Living Family” and children of Anambra.