The United Kingdom has issued 300,000 new visas to Nigerians in the past few years, according to British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.
Despite criticisms of the UK’s immigration policies, Montgomery stated that Nigeria has greatly benefited from these policies, especially following Brexit.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, he explained that Nigeria now holds a leading position in terms of the number of visas granted by the UK.
“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 really positive post-Brexit. Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of the post-Brexit migration visa rules,” Montgomery said.
He emphasized that Nigeria accounts for about 10% of all UK visas granted in the last two years, surpassing any other visa relationship that Nigeria has with other countries.
In addition, Montgomery praised the contributions of Nigerians in the UK, particularly in vital sectors like social care, where they play a crucial role.
“And 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.
“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 said on the breakfast show.
The High Commissioner also addressed the high approval rate for UK visas, emphasizing that applications with proper documentation have a high chance of success.
“If you apply with the right documentation and the right evidence, the approval rate is very high,” Montgomery added.
He also pointed out that the number of Nigerians granted work visas has significantly increased, from around 10,000-20,000 six or seven years ago to nearly 80,000-90,000 annually in recent years.
However, Montgomery acknowledged a decline in student visa applications compared to previous years.