Prosper Okoye
Nigeria and Jamaica could face visa restrictions to the United Kingdom if Reform UK wins the next general election, under a proposal targeting countries seeking reparations for slavery.
The party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, said the plan responds to what he described as growing demands from former colonies for compensation. Speaking, Yusuf said countries calling for reparations had collectively received millions of UK visas and billions of pounds in aid over the past two decades, adding: “Enough is enough.”
Several African and Caribbean nations — including Nigeria, Jamaica, Kenya, Haiti, Guyana, Barbados and The Bahamas — have formally raised calls for reparations, prompting concerns that their citizens could be affected by tighter UK entry rules under the proposal.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe announcement follows a recent vote at the United Nations General Assembly urging former colonial powers to address the legacy of slavery. The resolution described the forced displacement and enslavement of Africans as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.” The United Kingdom abstained.
Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, criticised the UN position, rejecting calls for reparations and questioning the organisation’s authority over British policy.
The party also pledged to reduce the UK’s foreign aid budget to £1 billion annually, a sharp cut from current spending levels.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said the government recognises the historical injustice of the transatlantic slave trade but maintains its longstanding position against paying reparations. Similarly, opposition leader Keir Starmer has ruled out both an apology and financial compensation, saying the focus should remain on present and future priorities.
The debate over reparations has gained momentum globally in recent years. Countries such as Ghana, along with regional blocs like the Caribbean Community and the African Union, have pushed for formal apologies, the return of cultural artefacts and broader reparatory justice.
In March and April 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, backed by more than 120 countries, formally recognising slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as crimes against humanity and calling for dialogue on reparative measures.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
