The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has revealed that 300,000 visas have been issued to Nigerians in the past few years.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Montgomery highlighted Nigeria's significant role as a key beneficiary of the UK’s visa policies, underscoring the strong ties between both nations and the growing opportunities for Nigerians in the UK.
In a related development, a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) was inaugurated in Ikeja, Lagos, last month, in partnership with VFS Global, the British High Commission's commercial partner.
At the launch event, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter noted that this facility is the largest VAC in Africa. Baxter reiterated the importance of Nigeria as a key partner for the UK, stating that over 225,000 UK visas were processed for Nigerian nationals across various categories in the year leading up to June 2024.
Montgomery responded to criticisms regarding the UK’s immigration policies, asserting, “I contest the narrative that the policies are harsh. In the past couple of years, we have granted around 300,000 new visas to Nigerians, which far surpasses any other visa relationship Nigeria maintains with other countries.”