An estimated 300,000 UK visas have been issued to Nigerians over the past few years, according to Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria.
This statement comes amidst criticisms suggesting that the UK’s immigration policies are overly harsh on Nigerians, making it challenging for them to obtain visas. Montgomery, however, refuted these claims, highlighting Nigeria as a major beneficiary of UK visa policies.
“I have to contest this picture because the UK in the last couple of years has granted around 300,000 new visas to Nigerians which far exceeds any other visa relationship which Nigeria has with any other country.
“The trends have been positive post-Brexit. Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of the post-Brexit migration visa rules.” he said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Contributions of Nigerians in The UK
Montgomery lauded the significant contributions of Nigerians living and working in the UK. He noted their roles as vital, particularly in sectors like social care, where Nigerian professionals have made a considerable impact.
“… if you look at say the number of people getting work visas in the UK, these people play an incredibly important role in certain sectors, particularly our social care sector,” he continued.
He stated Nigeria accounts for about 10% of visas granted by the UK in the last two years and emphasized that this visa relationship surpasses any Nigeria has with other countries.
“So, I would like to emphasize how huge the relationship is. It outstrips any other visa relationship that Nigeria has with any other single country in my understanding,” Montgomery who is also the UK Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
“If you apply with the right documentation and the right evidence, the approval rate is very high,” Montgomery added.
He also said the number of people getting work visas to the UK has gone up in the last couple of years.
“The number of people getting work visas that go to the UK has gone from something like 10 to 20,000 in about six, seven years ago to 80-90,000 a year in the last two years – last year and this year,”
Students Numbers Down
Despite the growth in work visas, there has been a decline in the number of Nigerian students obtaining UK study visas.
This trend may be attributed to stricter requirements, particularly in the area of proof of funds, which has made it more challenging for prospective students to meet the necessary criteria.
