UK Has Issued 300,000 Visas to Nigerians Since 2021, Montgomery Reveals

UK High Commissioner to Nigeria Reveals 300,000 Visas Issued to Nigerians in Recent Years

The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, announced that the UK has issued 300,000 new visas to Nigerian citizens over the past couple of years. Montgomery shared this information during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, emphasizing Nigeria’s significant role as a beneficiary of the UK’s visa policies.

In a related development last month, a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) was inaugurated in Ikeja, Lagos, in partnership with VFS Global, a commercial partner of the British High Commission. 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.”

He further described the trends as largely favorable since Brexit, revealing that Nigeria has become a major beneficiary of the new post-Brexit migration visa regulations. Notably, he highlighted the significant number of Nigerians obtaining work visas, emphasizing their vital contributions to key sectors in the UK, particularly in social care.

Montgomery emphasized the strength of Nigeria’s relationship with the UK, noting that Nigerian nationals account for approximately 10% of all visas granted by the UK in the last two years. He praised the important contributions made by Nigerians in the UK, calling their efforts “incredibly important.”