Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to remain alert to visa scams and to apply for UK visas only through official and authorized channels.
Speaking at the UK-Nigeria Economic Growth Conference held Wednesday in Abuja, Montgomery stressed the importance of submitting complete and truthful documentation to avoid visa denials. While acknowledging that concerns about visa refusals exist, he reassured the public that many Nigerian applicants are still being granted visas.
“We handle around 1,500 visa applications daily from Nigeria,” he noted, highlighting that Nigerians represent approximately 10% of all visitors to the UK.
Montgomery emphasized that most visa refusals are due to documentation problems rather than a lack of eligibility. He also pointed out that applicants can choose from various processing options, including standard, priority, and super priority services.
The High Commissioner underscored the enduring diplomatic and historical relationship between Nigeria and the UK, as reflected in the high volume of Nigerian visitors among the UK’s 37.9 million annual arrivals.