The United Kingdom has unveiled Africa’s largest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lagos State, strengthening its partnership with Nigeria. The centre, located in Ikeja, was inaugurated on Wednesday through the UK’s new commercial partner, VFS Global.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, expressed optimism about the centre’s ability to provide efficient visa services. He described Nigeria as one of the UK’s most important partners and highlighted the centre as a milestone in enhancing visa accessibility.
The new state-of-the-art facility complements existing centres in Victoria Island (Lagos) and Abuja, with all three locations commencing operations on November 19, 2024.
Key Highlights:
- The centre is equipped to handle the growing demand for UK visas in Nigeria, where over 225,000 applications were processed in the year leading to June 2024.
- This partnership underscores the UK’s commitment to improving visa services across Africa, according to Marc Owen, Director of Visa Services at UKVI.
- VFS Global, which has collaborated with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, reaffirmed its dedication to delivering exceptional services to Nigerian travelers.
The expansion reflects the deep ties between Nigeria and the UK, enhancing opportunities for travel and fostering mutual cooperation.
