Hundreds of Nigerian "poets and bloggers" have entered Britain under a little-known "literature" visa.
People from the African country have made the most applications out of any other nationality under the visa for writers, covering "poets" and oral "storytellers", The Telegraph revealed.
Nigerians have also been the leading nationality in having claims to exceptional literary ability which have been endorsed by Arts Council England.
The government quango has the ability to review and endorse applications for "Global Talent" visas.
The visa allows entry to Britain for exceptional individuals in music, theatre, and dance.
Applicants are expected to prove their artistic merit to gain entry.
A category for great talents in "literature" also exists, covering a variety of writers, including novelists, poets, spoken word performers, storytellers and creators of "graphic novels and comics".
Applicants which are successful can also bring their family to the UK as dependents and are able to stay up to five years at a time once they have been endorsed by the Arts Council and approved by the Home Office.
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|Nigerians are the most successful in having claims to exceptional literary ability endorsed by Arts Council England
Over the past five years, Nigerians have dominated the scheme with 125 applications submitted.
That is more than double the applications received by the USA with 61.
It is also far more than other English speaking nations, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand altogether.
During that same period, 70 were rejected, however, 54 were endorsed - which is more than any other country, according to official figures.
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The revelation of visa numbers comes as the Labour Government has faced pressure to strengthen its stance on immigration - which has recently reached record levels for both legal and illegal arrivals.
While Nigerian writers have built strong reputations over the past five years, including Ben Okri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, the use of literature visa looks to be part of a broader trend.
Since 2019, the number of Global Talent visa applications has risen by 2,225 per cent with only 12 applications made.
That has since rose to 279 in 2024.
Over that period, Nigerians have made 729 applications across artistic Global Talent categories, including dance, fashion, music, film and TV, theatre, combined arts, and visual arts.
That is second only to the US which has submitted 977.
However, just 59 per cent of the entries coming from Nigeria had been endorsed - the lowest of any country except for Ghana.
Of the more than 5,000 applications made across all nationalities since 2019, the Arts Council endorsed 3,600.
But, the Home Office doesn't break down figures for how many of the endorsements actually eventuated in people receiving visas.
Other nationalities, including Russia with 725, China with 492, Australia with 233 and India with 160, have also submitted large numbers of applications.