Victoria Mbangwa
In a significant move to bolster its visa application services in Nigeria, the United Kingdom has opened its largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Africa, located in Ikeja, Lagos. The new facility, operated by VFS Global, promises to improve the application process for Nigerians traveling to the UK, marking a key milestone in the UK-Nigeria relationship.
The Ikeja centre, which opened its doors on November 19, 2024, is part of the UK’s ongoing efforts to streamline its visa processing operations in the country.
This is the third such centre in Nigeria, joining existing facilities in Abuja and Victoria Island, Lagos. The centre is equipped to handle high volumes of visa applications, reflecting the growing demand for UK travel from Nigerian nationals.
Jonny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, was on hand for the launch, highlighting the importance of the UK-Nigeria partnership.
He said, “I am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa. Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS deliver ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK,”
Marc Owen, Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration, echoed Baxter’s sentiments, noting the growing demand for UK visas from Nigerian nationals.
“The opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in the provision of a world-class UK visa service here in Nigeria and elsewhere across Africa.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225,000 UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all applicants.” He said.
