At least 48 Nigerian nurses under investigation for exam fraud in the UK have been ordered to leave the country, despite pending appeals, Nursing Times has reported.
The UK Home Office issued deportation letters to some of the affected nurses, instructing them to leave as early as next week. This follows an investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) into 515 nurses who took their Computer-Based Test (CBT) at a test center in Ibadan, Nigeria. The NMC flagged this center due to suspected fraudulent activities, raising concerns about the legitimacy of their exam results.
The CBT is a mandatory requirement for foreign-trained nurses to obtain a UK nursing license. While the NMC has cleared some candidates, others remain under scrutiny, with over 160 nurses still facing doubts about their qualifications. Despite some nurses insisting they followed due process, the Home Office has revoked the visas of several individuals, leading to fears of mass deportations.
Many of these nurses are already employed in NHS hospitals, and their sudden removal could impact the UK healthcare system. Advocacy groups and legal representatives argue that innocent nurses should not suffer due to a systemic failure. The NMC has assured that each case will be reviewed individually, and those who prove their legitimacy will be allowed to remain.
This controversy has sparked concerns about Nigeria’s reputation in the global healthcare sector. Medical professionals worry that future Nigerian applicants may face stricter scrutiny, making it harder to secure jobs abroad. With investigations still ongoing, affected nurses remain in limbo, facing uncertainty over their careers and their ability to stay in the UK.