In the aftermath of Brexit, the UK experienced a notable shift in migration patterns, attracting previously eschewed non-EU citizens, especially those from former colonies like Nigeria. But this opportunity is a double-edged sword, with immigrants having to resort to illegal employment—at great physical, psychological and legal risk—to cope with the high costs of living.
When Onyedika (a pseudonym employed to protect the person’s privacy) left Ozalla, Enugu State in Nigeria and relocated to the UK in October 2019 on a student visa, he harboured the same ambitions as countless other migrants: access to world-class education, proximity to global professional opportunities, and the promise of economic security. Today, between his three jobs, he works over 80 hours weekly, leaving him with barely any time to pursue other goals. In addition to his punishing work schedule, Onyedika’s unstable financial circumstances have distanced him from his family back home, who financed his move with the expectation that he would become a primary provider upon settling in the UK. His predicament is a common reality among many Nigerian immigrants struggling to make ends meet in the UK’s harsh socioeconomic climate...
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